common or genitive case(动名词的逻辑主语是用主格还是用所有格?)
(A)I can't imagine my mother approving!
(B) I can't imagine my mother's approving!
动名词的逻辑主语是用名词的普通格,还是用名词的所有格呢?
粗略地说,在正式语体中,动名词的逻辑主语用名词的所有格(属格),在非正式语体中用名词的普通格(主格)。但是实际上事情并非如此简单。因此,在具体运用中,还要注意以下各点:
A. 当名词或名词短语不是指人时,一般使用主格形式:
I didn't know about the weather being so awful in this area. 我原来不知道这个地区的天气这么糟。
B. 如果名词或名词短语很长并需要几个属格, 即使它们是指人的, 也常常使用主格, 而避免使用属格:
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Do you remember Mary and her mother coming to see us last June? (CGEL) 你还记得玛丽和她母亲去年六月份来看过我们吗?
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Do you remember the students and teachers protesting against the new rule? (CGEL) 你还记得学生和教师抗议新规章的事吗?
C. 当动名词的逻辑主语是复数名词时,一般用主格:
Do you object to political action committees (instead of committees') underwriting candidates campaigns? 你是否反对政治行动委员会承担候选人竞选运动的费用?
D. 当逻辑主语与动名词被其他词语分割时,一般用主格: I remember mother once telling us a story about the fox. 我记得妈妈有一次曾给我们讲过狐狸的故事。
E. 当动名词的逻辑主语是 everything, something, someone 时,一般用主格: They complained about everything going wrong. 他们抱怨一切事情都出了毛病。 (参见 my/me)