Possessive before a gerund question.

In which sentence would you say that the teacher dislikes the child?



The teacher dislikes the child whispering to his classmate.



The teacher dislikes the child’s whispering to his classmate.

[Red5]

At a guess, "The teacher dislikes the child’s whispering to his classmate."

[HCaulfield]

I don't think the first one is grammatically correct. You like the way in which someone does something or the fact aht someone does something. You do dislike someone's doing something (This is analogous to 'Would you mind my opening the window?')

[Tdol]

I'd say the first fits the bill:
The teacher dislikes the child (who is) whispering to his classmate.

[Dandelion]

Originally Posted by M56

In which sentence would you say that the teacher dislikes the child?

The teacher dislikes the child whispering to his classmate.
The teacher dislikes the child’s whispering to his classmate.

I'm with tdol. It's definitely the first sentence that gives the idea that the teacher dislikes the child. This is an example of reducing an adjective clause to an adjective phrase.

The teacher dislikes the child who is whispering to his classmate.
The teacher dislikes the child whispering to his classmate.

Which child does the teacher dislike? The one who is whispering to his classmate.

[Dandelion]

Originally Posted by M56

In which sentence would you say that the teacher dislikes the child?
The teacher dislikes the child whispering to his classmate.
The teacher dislikes the child’s whispering to his classmate.

The first sentence means that the teacher dislikes the child.
The second sentence means that the teacher doesn't like the child to whisper to his classmate.

The first sentence is an example of an adjective clause reduction.
The second sentence is an example of using a possessive to modify a gerund. They are both grammatically correct, but they convey a different meaning.

[Tdol]

The first could also be modifying a gerund, as many people don't follow the rule of using a possessive to do so, but the seond couldn't carry the disliking idea.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by M56

In which sentence would you say that the teacher dislikes the child?
The teacher dislikes the child whispering to his classmate.
The teacher dislikes the child’s whispering to his classmate.

In that context, neither.

Originally Posted by tdol

I'd say the first fits the bill:
The teacher dislikes the child (who is) whispering to his classmate.

Me too. Reduced relative clause.

Originally Posted by Casiopea

In that context, neither.

Reduced relative clause?