基本信息
英語動詞有限定(finite)和非限定(non-finite)兩類。
句子中的謂語動詞(predicative verb)是限定的;限定動詞受人稱(person)和數目(number)的限制。此外,還有時態(tense )、語態(voice)和情態(mood)等。例如:
① Good leaders serve the people whole-heartedly.
② Jason is giving a public lecture.
③ Who did it?
④ I would appreciate it if you could do me a favour.
⑥ Helen has a smiling face.
⑦ Your written English is good.
⑧ Smoking is harmful to health.
⑥里的是現在分詞;⑦里的是過去分詞; ⑧里的是動名詞。
非限定動詞及其短語,語法功能龐大,涉及下列五方面:
一 當主語
動名詞可當句子的主語,取代名詞和代名詞。例如:
⑨ Swimming makes us hale and hearty.
二 當補足語
可當主語的句子成分也可當補足語。例如:
● A good government's desire is serving the people.
● What is difficult is to hoodwink the public indefinitely.
同樣的,現在分詞與過去分詞也可充當接系動詞(the linking verb)的補足語。例如:
● The witness's evidence is quite convincing.
● At long last, John was fully convinced.
三 當賓語
動名詞可充當及物動詞的賓語。例如:
● Janet suddenly stopped talking.
它們也可以成為介詞的賓語,但除了“except, but, about, than”之外,介詞的賓語多數是動名詞。
例如:
●I am tired of repeating the same point.
四 當名詞修飾語
●Don't disturb the sleeping dog.(現在分詞)
●The sailors came in a fishing boat.(動名詞)
五 當動詞修飾語
●Walking along the road, he came across a friend.(現在分詞短語)
●Extremely frightened, the picnickers fled.(過去分詞短語)
●Peter came running.(動名詞)