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Can't stop wondering what the correct option is.

Or are they both correct, and the latter just sounds more formal?

Laurel
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Анастасія Жупинас
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    I prefer: "Don't worry about being alone." – Weather Vane Jul 07 '22 at 22:16
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    Assuming the capitals do not represent LOUD SPEECH, there's no difference. Gerunds can take possessive or objective subjects. – John Lawler Jul 07 '22 at 22:42
  • @JohnLawler - both correct, but I wouldn't say no difference. In one case the concern is for the person [you being alone] and in the other for the circumstances [your being alone]. – ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere Oct 19 '23 at 10:05
  • @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere I don't think that's a valid distinction. "I don't care about you leaving" and "I don't care about your leaving" both indicate lack of caring about the departure not about the person who is leaving. – Stuart F Oct 19 '23 at 14:27
  • @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere That may well be the way you use it (and interpret it) consistently, but individual differences are massive, and many many speakers are not aware that others have different favorite uses and interpretations of particular constructions. – John Lawler Oct 19 '23 at 14:58
  • @StuartF - But wouldn't the alternative to "I don't care about you leaving" be "I don't care about John leaving"? And "I don't care about your leaving" would have "I don't care about your smell"? That's how I'd use them, and reading both out loud it's where I'd put the emphasis. I'm always twitchy about "no difference" answers as they're often not universal and can indicate the speaker's priorities (sometimes subconsciously). – ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere Oct 20 '23 at 09:08
  • @JohnLawler - Absolutely. We're all just expressing opinions. The more, the merrier. – ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere Oct 20 '23 at 09:09

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