Q. Hi. My question is about the use of “you” versus “your” in a participial phrase. Which is correct: “I appreciate you helping keep the house clean” or “I appreciate your helping keep the house clean”? A little ghost from grade-school grammar tells me it is the latter, but I can’t find anything in CMOS that addresses this (although I’m sure it’s there and I’ve simply missed it).
A. Your little ghost is right: “your” is the better choice here. CMOS 7.28 discusses the possessive followed by a gerund.