Gerunds and possessive forms before gerunds

Understanding the TOEFL Grammar Item: Gerunds and Possessive Forms Before Gerunds

The given sentence is:

“Tom’s parents did not approve of _____ in a rock band.”

Answer choices:

him joining
he joining
his join
he join

To determine the correct answer, we need to analyze the grammatical structure of the phrase “approve of”, understand gerund usage, and address common misunderstandings.

1. Identifying the Grammar Rule: Gerunds and Their Subjects

The key to this question is recognizing that the verb “approve of” is followed by a gerund (-ing form) because prepositions (like “of”) must be followed by either a noun or a gerund.

Correct structure:

approve of + gerund (verb + -ing)

approve of joining

However, when a gerund has a subject (the person doing the action), English allows for two possible structures:

Possessive before the gerund (formal, more grammatically correct)
- ✅ approve of his joining
Object pronoun before the gerund (more common in speech and informal writing)
- ✅ approve of him joining

Thus, the correct answer is:

✅ (A) him joining.

(Although “his joining” would also be correct in formal writing, it is not given as an answer choice.)

2. Explanation of Why Other Choices Are Incorrect

(B) he joining ❌
- “He” is a subject pronoun (he, she, they), but it is not used before gerunds in this context.
- Correct alternatives are either a possessive pronoun (his, her, their) or an object pronoun (him, her, them).
- ❌ approve of he joining (incorrect)
- ✅ approve of him joining (correct)
(C) his join ❌
- “Join” is a base verb, but after “approve of,” we need a gerund (joining) instead.
- Also, “his join” is not a natural phrase in English.
- ❌ approve of his join (incorrect)
- ✅ approve of his joining (correct, but not in answer choices)
(D) he join ❌
- “Join” in this form would be a bare infinitive (used in commands or subjunctive clauses), but it is incorrect after “approve of.”
- ❌ approve of he join (incorrect)
- ✅ approve of him joining (correct)

3. Common Misunderstandings and Errors

Many English learners struggle with this type of sentence because of confusion over possessive pronouns before gerunds, subject vs. object pronouns, and gerund usage after prepositions.

A. Confusion Between “him joining” and “his joining”

Both “him joining” and “his joining” can be grammatically correct, but “him joining” is more commonly used in everyday speech.
“His joining” sounds more formal and academic.
Both are correct:
- ✅ approve of his joining (formal)
- ✅ approve of him joining (common)

B. Thinking “He” Works as the Subject

Many learners mistakenly believe “he joining” is correct because “he” is a subject pronoun. However, before a gerund, we use a possessive pronoun or an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun.
❌ approve of he joining (incorrect)
✅ approve of him joining (correct)

C. Forgetting That Prepositions Require a Gerund

Since “approve of” is followed by a preposition, the next verb must be in gerund form (-ing).
Many learners mistakenly try to use the base verb (join) instead of joining.
❌ approve of his join (incorrect)
❌ approve of he join (incorrect)
✅ approve of him joining (correct)

4. Summary and Final Takeaway

Rule: After “approve of”, use a gerund (-ing form).
Correct Answer: him joining (Answer A).
Common Mistakes:
1. Using “he joining” instead of “him joining.”
2. Using “join” instead of “joining.”
3. Thinking “his join” makes sense (it does not).
4. Forgetting that prepositions must be followed by a noun or gerund.

To master this structure, learners should practice sentences with prepositions + gerunds, such as:

They insisted on him attending the meeting.
She is worried about her failing the test.
We talked about them moving to Canada.

By understanding these patterns, English learners can avoid this common TOEFL grammar mistake and improve their accuracy.

Benjamin L. Stewart

Explorer