Verb + Subject + present participle or Verb + possessive + present participle?

I and my friend were discussing about which of the followings being correct.

"I can't imagine you using a dictionary"

"I can't imagine your using a dictionary"

I think that the latter is correct. My argument is that I consider "using" a gerund, and treat the whole gerund phrase as a noun.

What do you think about this case? Any comment would be greatly appriciated. Thank you.


Solution 1:

They are both correct.

  1. I can't imagine you using a dictionary

This means that I cannot imagine you in a scenario where you are using a dictionary.

  1. I can't imagine your using a dictionary

This means I can't imagine the use of a dictionary when it is being done by you.