Can I say:
I understand your wanting to wait a while longer.
I have heard it being said, but how correct is it?
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4None of the clauses in the sentence is an example of the present progressive construction. Wanting is just the verb of a gerund clause, with a possessive subject your. One could also say my wanting, his wanting, her wanting, their wanting, or our wanting. – John Lawler Sep 05 '14 at 20:11
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And in addition to what @JohnLawler said, understand is a verb that does not take a gerund afterwards, but nouns. So you'd say "I understand your request to wait a while longer." and that sounds more grammatical. – Neeku Sep 05 '14 at 20:12
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@Neeku: in this case, the gerund is a noun. – Peter Shor Sep 05 '14 at 20:15
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Actually understand can take a gerund complement -- with or without subject -- as well as that-complements and embedded question complements. They're different, though: I understand her kissing him doesn't mean the same as I understand that she kissed him or I understand who she kissed. – John Lawler Sep 05 '14 at 20:20
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@JohnLawler Very crafty ordering her and him that way to avoid prickling the prickly. Well done! – tchrist Sep 06 '14 at 00:00