in return for ...

[GUEST2008]

Hi

I was trying to punish him in return for his/him punishing his daughter.

--- Should it be "his" or "him"?

Thanks

 

[sarat_106]

Hi

I was trying to punish him in return for (his/him) punishing his daughter.

--- Should it be "his" or "him"?

Thanks

It should be ‘his’ which is a possessive adjective modifying the gerund ‘punishing’ which acts as object of the preposition ‘for’, however you can do without 'his'

 

[GUEST2008]

however you can do without 'his'

Hi

So it would be OK to say: I was trying to punish him in return for punishing his daughter.

Thanks

 

[sarat_106]

Hi

So it would be OK to say: I was trying to punish him in return for punishing his daughter.

Thanks

Yes, precisely.