I enjoy Tom’s dancing.

[diamondcutter]

1. I enjoy Tom’s dancing.
2. I enjoy Tom dancing.
3. I enjoy his dancing.
4. I enjoy him dancing.
(Made by me)
I’d like to know whether all of these sentences make sense and have the same meaning.

 

[Barque]

They make sense. There's a slight nuance. Sentences 1 and 3 mean you enjoy watching him dance, and 2 and 4 mean you enjoy it when he dances.

Sentence 3 can substitute 1 (and 4, 2) if the listener knows that Tom's the person referred to.

None of them are the way I'd put it however, if I had to.
I enjoy watching Tom dance.
I enjoy watching him dance.

 

[Ms. Worth]

Sentences 1 and 3 are alike, and sentences 2 and 4 are alike.
1. I enjoy Tom’s dancing.
3. I enjoy his dancing.
These mean "I enjoy the dancing that Tom does."
This pair says you enjoy the DANCING.

2. I enjoy Tom dancing.
4. I enjoy him dancing.
These mean "I enjoy Tom when he is dancing."
This pair says you enjoy TOM.
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Here are two more pairs of sentences with the same distinction:
1) The bird's flying was beautiful.
The bird's FLIGHT was beautiful.
This sentence says that the FLYING was beautiful.

2) The bird flying was beautiful.
The bird was beautiful when it flew.
This sentence says that the BIRD was beautiful when it was flying.
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1) Mary's walking was amazing.
2) Mary walking was amazing.

1) Mary's walking was amazing.
The kind of walking Mary did was amazing.
She had long legs and a quick stride, so she could cover many miles in a day.
This sentence is about the WALKING.
It is talking about how amazing this kind of walking was.

2) Mary walking was amazing.
Mary was amazing to be able to walk at such a young age.
She could go all around the table just holding on with her little hands.
This sentence is about MARY.
It is talking about what an amazing little girl she was.