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      How to explain...
      Submitted by curioe on 5 October, 2009 - 09:45

      How can I explain the use of "your" in the phrase "Thanks for your telling me..."?

      ‹ About the verb 'to suggest' Teaching Affixes (Prefixes & Suffixes) ›

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      toxicjames's picture
      toxicjames
      It's 'your' because the
      Submitted on 7 October, 2009 - 18:56

      It's 'your' because the 'telling me' is treated as an object, something possessed by the person being spoken to. I'm not sure the whole phrase sounds particularly natural though.

      camee's picture
      camee
      "your"
      Submitted on 11 October, 2009 - 12:23

      I beg to differ with toxicjames. The concept of what is natural and what is not is always fraught with philosophical pitfalls so I will steer clear to it. But I, for one, have heard and read it quite frequently. However, toxicjames' explanation is quite useful.