英语中“动词+ing”的语法功能

王 鹤 李筱洁

英语中有三种形式的“动词+ing”:现在分词(the present participle) 、动名词 (the gerund)和名词化的动名词(the verbal noun)。分析这些形式在句中的语法功能可以帮助我们对这三种形式加以区分。

一、 现在分词

正因为现在分词一半是动词一半是名词,所以现在分词具有动词、形容词或副词的特点。这类词可以用在以下类型的句子中。

(1)部分谓语。现在分词可以用在动词的进行时中。He is reading a book.

(2)定语。如果现在分词作名词的修饰语,一般是像形容词一样,置于动词前。现在分词表示的动作是由它修饰的名词完成的,或者表明被修饰语的状态。Look at the flying bird! (正在飞的鸟) 如果现在分词用作定语修饰“something”“anything”“nothing”等,需后置。The book mentions something interesting.(一些有趣的事)

(3)表语。现在分词在句中可以用作定语,表示句子主语的状态或者特征。His report is convincing.(有说服力的)

(4)状语。①时间状语:如果现在分词表示的动作与限定性动词表示的动作几乎同时发生,就可以使用现在分词短语。Seeing Mr. Smith, we greeted him.如果现在分词表示的动作发生在限定性动词表示的动作以前,我们用现在分词的完成时形式。Having finished our homework, we went to play basketball.②原因状语:Being a Party member, he works very hard.③方式状语:He stood there, gazing at the bright moon.④结果状语:She hurried to school, leaving her purse behind.⑤目的状语:He got up very early this morning, hoping to catch the first bus.

(5)宾语或主语的补足语。现在分词还可以跟在“see”“hear”“notice”“watch”“feel”和“find”这些动词的后面做宾语补足语或者主语补足语。a. I saw him crossing the street. (宾语补足语)b. He was seen crossing the street. (主语补足语)

二、 动名词

动名词是非限定性动词的一种。我们称其为动名词是因为它具有动词和名词的特征。动名词与其宾语或者其状语被称为“动名词短语”。

(1)动名词或动名词短语在句中的作用。①主语:Smoking is not allowed in the office.②谓语:动名词或动名词短语在句中可用作谓语,含义与主语一致。His job is delivering newspapers.③动词宾语:Hob's hair needs cutting.④介词宾语:He was charged with neglecting duty.

(2)动名词的复杂结构。我们通常把物主代词或名词性物主代词放在动名词的前面来表示动名词的逻辑主语。It's no use your telling me not to worry.

(3)动名词的时态和语态。动名词有现在时和完成时两种时态,主动和被动两种语态。①动名词的现在时表示的是一个普遍的动作或与限定性动词几乎同时发生的动作。We are all interested in climbing mountains.②动名词的完成时表示的动作发生在限定性动词表示的动作以前。I regret not having taken the doctor's advice.③动名词在主动语态中表示主动动作。有时我们要用逻辑主语来更清晰地表达我们的意思。比较:a. I like staying here.(我喜欢呆在这)b. I like your staying here. (我喜欢你呆在这)④如果逻辑主语是动名词所表示动作的宾语,我们用动名词的被动语态。I took his dictionary away without being seen.

三、 名词化的动名词

在语法术语中,第三种“动词 + ing”形式是指具有名词特征的名词化的动名词。它一般在句中用作主语、宾语或介词宾语。名词化的动名词具有以下特征:

(1)名词化的动名词有复数形式。He paid no attention to their comings and goings.

(2)冠词可以前置于名词化的动名词。A knocking at the door was heard.

(3)形容词修饰名词化的动名词,副词修饰现在分词和动名词。对比:a. The work needs careful planning. (形容词修饰名词化的动名词) b. The work needs planning carefully. (副词修饰动名词) c. I saw him planning carefully. (副词修饰现在分词)

(4)名词化的动名词没有宾语。对比:a. The reading of the book is a great enjoyment. (名词化的动名词用作主语)b. I like reading books very much. (动名词+宾语用作动词“like”的宾语) c. I saw him reading a book in his room. (现在分词+宾语用作宾语补足语)

(5)名词化的动名词没有时态或者语态。对比:a. He does some washing every day. b. After having washed the clothes he watched television. (动名词的完成时用作介词“after”的宾语)

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