I am confused

[branka]

Which one is correct:

"My father was opposed to ME getting married."
or
"My father was opposed to MY getting married."


I have another question:

" ... "The Silent Villagers" is a gripping tale with enough twist and turns to keep you interested until the very last page. Why ARE this couple so obsessed with THEIR privacy and what secrets ARE THEY hiding? There's only one way to find out and that's to read the book..."

This is a passage from some text I found on Internet (BBC - Homepage), I am confused, why are the verbs in plural, I would say couple IS...

Thanks in advance...

[engee30]

Originally Posted by branka

Which one is correct:

"My father was opposed to ME getting married." More colloquial.
or
"My father was opposed to MY getting married." More formal.


I have another question:

" ... "The Silent Villagers" is a gripping tale with enough twist and turns to keep you interested until the very last page. Why ARE this couple so obsessed with THEIR privacy and what secrets ARE THEY hiding? There's only one way to find out and that's to read the book..."
A couple (of people) = two (people); in BrE you can use either a singular or plural verb. If you've decided to use a plural verb, then you are supposed to use the plural pronoun they and the plural adjective their to refer back to the couple.

This is a passage from some text I found on Internet (BBC - Homepage), I am confused, why are the verbs in plural, I would say couple IS...

Thanks in advance...

[buggles]

"My father was opposed to ME getting married."
or
"My father was opposed to MY getting married."

The second one is correct. Your father is not opposed to you as a person, but he is opposed to your getting married. It is your activity (getting married) to which he is opposed, not to you in general.
Having said that, most people probably use the first sentence in everday speech - it has become acceptable through usage.
This brings me to your second question: although "couple" is singular - we speak of a couple - most people tend to use it as a plural noun.
"A couple was taking a stroll together", sounds wrong even though grammatically it is correct.
"A couple were taking a stroll......", sounds so much better.
Again, usage has made this not only acceptable, but preferable.

Hope this helps.

Buggles (not a teacher)

[branka]

Thank you very much! It really helped me!

[branka]

Thanks! Now it's all clear to me...

[David L.]

buggles: