在英语学习中,不少学生会混淆动名词与现在分词。在遇到动词的-ing形式时,很难区分它是动名词还是现在分词。动名词和现在分词都是由动词变化而来,仍然具有动词的性质与原义,它们都属于非谓语动词。下面简要介绍它们的主要区别。
一、动词的-ing形式用作主语时,其为动名词,现在分词不可以用作主语。
1.动名词用作主语
Reading French is easier than speaking it. 阅读法文比讲法语容易。
Growing roses is her hobby. 种玫瑰是她的爱好。
2.有时it作形式主语,把动名词主语放在句子后面
It’s nice seeing you again. 再次见到你太好了。
It was a waste of time reading that book. 看那本书是浪费时间。
3.“There is + no”后可以用动名词作主语
There was no knowing what he could do. 他能做什么很难说。
There was no arguing with her. 没法和她争论。
二、动词的-ing形式用作宾语时,其为动名词,现在分词不可以用作宾语。
1.有许多动词可接动名词作宾语
I suggested bringing the meeting to an end. 我建议结束会议。
He kept complaining. 他不停地抱怨。
I finished reading the book last night. 这书我昨晚看完了。
2.有许多带介词的动词固定搭配接动名词作宾语
He has given up playing football. 他现在不踢足球了。
Prices keep on increasing. 价格不断上涨。
三、当动词的-ing形式用作状语时,其为现在分词,动名词不可以用作状语。
现在分词及其短语从表意的角度看可以用作状语,表示时间、原因、结果、条件、让步、方式或伴随情况等。其动作可能发生在谓语之前或之后,也可能与谓语动词的动作同时发生。
Climbing to the top of the tower, we saw a magnificent view.
我们爬到塔顶后,看到了一片壮丽的景象。(表时间)
Living in the country, we had few social engagements.
我们住在乡下,交际的机会很少。(表原因)
A person standing at the center of one of the broader craters would be unable to see the crater walls.
一个人如站在更广阔的火山口的中间,就会看不到火山口壁。(表条件)
Knowing all this, they made me pay for the damage.
尽管他们了解这一切,还是要我赔偿损失。(表让步)
The child fell, striking his head against the door and cutting it.
那孩子跌倒了,头碰在门上碰破了。(表结果)
He stood leaning against the wall. 他靠墙站着。(表方式或伴随情况)
四、动名词与现在分词都可以用作表语,当动词的-ing为名词时,动词的-ing为动名词。动词的-ing为形容词时,动词的-ing为现在分词。
1.动名词用作表语
Her hobby is painting. 她的爱好是绘画。
Her job was tending the sheep. 她的工作是放羊。
The main thing is getting there in time. 首要的事是及时到达那里。
2.现在分词用作表语
The news is encouraging. 这消息令人鼓舞。
This story is very interesting. 这个故事很有趣。
The day was so charming. 天气真是好极了。。
五、动名词与现在分词用作定语时的区别
动名词修饰名词时主要表示该名词的用途或功能;现在分词修饰名词时主要表示该名词性质、状态或动作等。例如:a swimming boy和a swimming suit 前者的意思是“一个正在游泳的男孩”,即a boy who is swimming ,现在分词swimming 表示被修饰名词boy的动作;而后者的意思是“游泳衣”,即a suit for swimming ,动名词swimming表示suit 的用途。
六、动名词与现在分词都可以用作补语,但现在分词用作宾语补语时,与前面的宾语构成复合宾语。
具有这种复合宾语的动词多为表示感觉的动词,如:smell, observe, watch, notice, look at, listen to 等。另外,有些使役动词如have, set, get, catch, keep, leave等可以后面接含有现在分词的复合宾语。还有,作为宾语补语的现在分词有时前面可有as,前面的动词多用regard, consider, describe, quote, picture, see, think of 等。现在分词用作主语补语,多用在被动结构中,与主语构成复合主语。而动名词作补语对相应的动词却没这些规定。
1.动名词用作补语
This is called turning things upside down. 这叫做把事物颠倒了。(turning 是主语补语)
2.现在分词用作补语
We kept the fire burning all the time. 我们使火一直燃烧着。