Grammar: what is the correct sentence here?...?

Question

If a former client of mine gives my name/number to a friend of theirs (referral), would the proper sentence from me to the new client be...

"I appreciate Mr. Old Client referring YOU to ME."

...OR...

"I appreciate Mr. Old Client referring ME to YOU."

?? Both sound correct! I'm a stickler for grammar, etc., and want to be correct. It's a sentence I use often, and I've done it both ways not knowing what is correct! ahhh!!! :) Which noun is the object of the verb, is it that simple? I'm just not sure!

Any English teachers out there?....

Lilo: but is to "appreciate" the same thing as to "thank" ?... I think in this case I'm not thanking the old client (to the new client), I'm *appreciating* the fact that he referred me...(i.e., showing in that sentence that I value referrals)?... :)

Answer 1

Definition of refer:

to send or direct for treatment, aid, information

Mr. Old Client referred (directed for information) his friend to you. He did nothing to you; you were not referred.

The first sentence is the correct one to convey what you mean.

Appreciate is certainly the word to use - thank never enters the picture here. However, to be grammatically correct, the sentence should read:

" I appreciate Mr. Old Client's referring you to me."

If a gerund (participle used as a noun), such as 'referring', is preceded by a noun, that noun should be possessive case. This point is often abused today, but is still the correct way. Citation from GPO Style Manual:

8.18. A noun preceding a gerund should be in the possessive
case.
in the event of Mary's leaving
the ship's hovering nearby

BTW, avoid like the plague any advice from a purported English teacher who does not understand transitive verbs, who uses "bare" in place of "bear", and who cannot spell "client."

Answer 2

Both are fine. The question is not grammar here. The sentence depends on WHO was referred. Were you referred to him or was he referred to you? If the clients are being referred to your company, then the first sentence sounds better.

Answer 3

It's the second one, because the name/number (you) was referred to him..... The difference stands in the fact that you bare more consideration to the new client, for trusting his friend and responding to his suggestion, thus giving YOU a chance. You should place yourself a little bit lower than the new client in this case, so you have been referred to him. He wasn't referred to you, you just heard of him from your friend.
To be short....you needed a referral :))


But why thank the new client for the former cleint's nice gesture? You can say you appreciate and take advantage of this opportunity.

Answer 4

Referred Me To You

Answer 5

I am planning to move to China in the first week of November and will probably join the HK team after 3 months.

Answer 6

You would not thank the new client for the old client's referral. You would be reiterating what is already known. I would tell the new client I appreciate the opportunity to work together. I would then tell the old client Thank you for referring me I appreciate the faith you have in me.

Answer 7

I would say #1 but I'm not an English teacher.

Answer 8

the second is correct, because the action verb is "referring," and the object of that action is yourself, so you would say he referred me...

But, if you want to avoid the confusion, state it like this:

I very much appreciate Mr. Jones giving me your name as a referral.

Answer 9

I would say #1. I think I would say "I appreciate Mr. Old Client FOR referring me to you." I looked refer up on dictionary.com and they have examples of the use.

Answer 10

Whoever was given the name of the new person is the recipient. In this case you were referred to him.