Possessive Form for Noun or Pronoun in Front of a Gerund
The Apostrophe
Rulebase Summary
Use the possessive form (apostrophe s for singular, s apostrophe for plural) for a noun that appears in front of a gerund (-ing verb form used as a noun). If a pronoun appears in front of the gerund, use the possessive form of the pronoun (his, her, their — no apostrophe since possessive pronouns do not take one).
BGGP Apostrophe.20 · p.265
Examples
✗
A. She did not approve of him drinking on the job.
✓
A. She did not approve of his drinking on the job.
Possessive pronoun before gerund — 'his' not 'him.'
✗
A. There was no reason for the employees constant arguing.
✓
A. There was no reason for the employees' constant arguing.
Plural possessive apostrophe before gerund.
Style Guide References (1)
BGGP
Apostrophe.20
Page 265