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Grammar Geek

#366683 Thu, 17 May 07 07:00 PM

Belly, no. Please see my prior post.

PeaceBF - I answered this question in the thread about elements in a list. Write back there if you are still confused. In this case, it means that you used "You/your" in the first part of the sentence, so you can use "you/your" in the second part.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (16,089)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Goodman

#366691 Thu, 17 May 07 07:39 PM

Yankee wrote:
I think the reason not to use 'your' has to do with parallel structure more than anything else:

~~Your~~ failure to pay will result in ~~your~~ prosecution.

<< Your failure to pay will result in your prosecution.>>

I see it differently. “Failure to ....may/ will result in something” is a generally statement and it’s not applied to anyone in particular.

If I say “failure to comply with the entry rules will result in disqualification from the contest”, I am saying this as a general advisory to all contestants in general. So the “your” as an implied reason in the original question doesn’t satisfy the question why it’s used or otherwise. I believe it <your> is not necessary. In fact, when possessive pronoun is used, the tone becomes personalized. But that is one man’s opinion.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,247)

The name says it all!

Possessives, Nouns, Pronouns

Yankee

#366712 Thu, 17 May 07 08:24 PM

I'm happy that you understand my observations, Goodman. Tongue Tied [:S]

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,306)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Belly

#366975 Fri, 18 May 07 06:32 AM

Grammar Geek wrote:

No, that's not right.

Failure TO PAY (not "in paying") will lead to [your] prosecution.

It won't lead to you prosecuting someone else, as "will lead you to prosecution."

And, as has already been discussed, the "your" is optional, but without it, it's a general rule. With it, it applies directly to you personally. Since your original sentence also had "you," it could be okay, but without the "your" is generally better.

The bold is no different from "will lead you to being prosecuted"?

Belly

Joined on Mon, Feb 19 2007

Regular Member (595)

Grammar

Grammar Geek

#367075 Fri, 18 May 07 02:46 PM

I'm sorry, I'm obvioulsy not being clear.

"...will lead you to prosecution" - this is not natural, but if pressed, I would say it sounds like you are the one who will be doing the prosecuting, even though I know that's not logical. This is a poor construction. Don't use it for this.

"...will lead to your prosecution" - YOU are the one who will be prosecuted. This natural, logical, and should be used. (If you want to keep the "your" in there at all. As has been said a few times, "will lead to prosecution" is the better choice if you want to show a general rule.)

Grammar Geek

Constructions

Belly

#367079 Fri, 18 May 07 03:09 PM

Ah, thanks, how about "Failure in your payment"?

Belly

Marius Hancu

#367083 Fri, 18 May 07 03:19 PM

Yankee wrote:
I think the reason not to use 'your' has to do with parallel structure more than anything else:

~~Your~~ failure to pay will result in ~~your~~ prosecution.

I kindly disagree.

Such "legal" statements are written intentionally in an impersonal/detached/cold way. Thus eliminating the "your."