分詞有現在分詞和過去分詞，有動詞的特征，有形容詞和副詞的功能。現在分詞有主動意義，而及物動詞的過去分詞具有被動意義，不及物動詞具有主動意義，表示已經發生過的事情。
一、現在分詞
1． 表語 許多現在分詞已經成為形容詞，如amusing, annoying, astonishing, attracting, boring, disappointing, discouraging, encouraging, embarrassing, exciting, fascinating, frightening, interesting, inspiring, inviting, pleasing, puzzling, shocking, surprising, tiring等，都具有主動意義，譯成“令人…的”，但是 missing是主動表示被動。這些詞同普通形容詞一樣可以由副詞修飾，也可以有比較等級。問：這些詞能做定語和補語嗎？
The story is amusing, more amusing than all the others.
注意：go, come, sit, stand等動詞后面能接-ing作表語（或理解為狀語）。如：
Jim has gone fishing. I’d rather come walking with him.
We sat telling stories to the children.
He stood watching the football match.
2． 賓語 以下幾類動詞可以接現在分詞作賓補：
1） see, hear, smell, feel, watch, find, notice, observe, look at, listen to等表示感覺的動詞，現在分詞的動作與謂語同時發生。
Can you smell anything burning?
I saw them swimming in the pool just now.
2） have, keep, get, set, send, leave等表示“致使”等意義的動詞。
I won’t have you doing that.
His remarks left me wondering his real purpose.
注意：感覺動詞后面的現在分詞賓補表示正在進行的動作，即非全過程；要表示動作的全過程，要用不定式。
I saw him crossing the road.
I saw him cross the road.
3．定語 現在分詞可以前置和后置。
1）前置 通常由一個現在分詞承當。
hard-working people, that never-ending quarrel, fine-looking buildings, an English-speaking man;
2）后置 通常由一個現在分詞短語承當。
I have a friend living in London.
Will the people sitting at the back please keep quiet?
4．狀語
1）時間狀語 常在句首。
Hearing the bad news, she burst into tears.
Once, while working on a new invention, Edison made 8,000 tests without success.
Having arrived at a decision, they immediately set to work.
2）條件狀語 較少見，常在句首。
Working hard, you will make it.
If playing all day, you will waste your valuable time.
3）原因狀語 常在句首。
Not understanding the problem, he asked the teacher again.
Being a shy man, Einstein did not attend his fiftieth birthday party.
Having lived in Berlin so many years, he knew the city quite well.
4）結果狀語 常在句末。
He dropped the cup, breaking it into pieces.
One by one Peter sold his tomatoes, getting only a small amount of their worth.
5）程度狀語 常在句末。
The soup is boiling hot.
It is freezing cold.
6）伴隨狀語 常在句末，表示伴隨情況、行為方式、補充說明等。
They stood at the roadside, watching the procession.
The children ran out, laughing and talking merrily.
He sat at the window reading.
7）獨立成分 表示說話人的態度或看問題的角度。
Judging from what you say, he has done his best.
Generally speaking, this book is not easy.
8）獨立主格結構
All the tickets having been sold out, we went away.
She sobbed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Weather permitting, I’ll go skating.
He sat there, children playing round him.
注意：1）名詞化的現在分詞。
Helen Keller worked hard to help the sick and the dying.
2）有些名詞就是-ing結尾的。
He gave me a good beating.
They did all the cooking by themselves.
The building of a new economy requires all our efforts.