Possessive pronouns nd their two forms and syntactic functions in the sentence Context Introduction

Using the Possessive Pronouns with —ing Verbs

Possessive Pronouns may be used before verbs ending in –ing that serves as nouns. The technical name for such verb forms is known as GerundOpens in new window.
Although, not all of such verbs serve as nounsOpens in new window. If the emphasis is on the activity, the verb serves as a noun and a possessive pronoun is required. But if the emphasis is on the person doing the activity, use an objective pronounOpens in new window.
Observe carefully the following sentences:
Activity

• 
  I don’t like your lying to a police officer.
  ( I don’t like lying to a police officer.)
  

Person

• 
  I heard you lying to the police officer.
  (I heard you as you told the lie.)
  

Activity

• 
  Residents are upset about their evacuating the area.
  (Residents are upset about the evacuation.)
  

Person

• 
  I don’t want them evacuating the area.
  (I don’t want the firefighters evacuating the area; I want them mitigating the hazard. The police can handle the evacuation.)
  

Possessive Pronoun versus Contractions
Do not confuse possessive pronouns with contractions.

Possessive pronouns	Contractions
its	it's (contraction of it is or it has)
their	they're (contraction of they are)
theirs	there's (contraction of there is or there has)
your	you're (contraction of you are)
whose	who's (contraction of who is)

If you are unsure which word to use, try substituting the words from which the contraction is formed.
If the new sentence makes sense, you can use the contraction; if it doesn’t, you must use a possessive pronoun