一、概说
动名词是非谓语动词的一种,它由动词原形加-ing构成,形式上与现在分词相同。动名词除具有动词性质外,还具有名词的性质。动名词在句中可用作主语、表语、宾语、定语、宾语补足语等,但不能用作谓语(故称不定式为非谓语动词)。
二、动名词的句法功能
1. 用作主语
Saving is getting. 节约即增收。
Finding work is difficult these days. 现今找工作可不容易。
Being lost can be a terrifying experience. 迷路有时很可怕。
注:动名词作主语时,有时可用it作形式主语。如:
It’s hard work climbing mountains. 爬山是费劲的事。
It’s fun being taken to the Zoo. 被带去逛动物园很有意思。
用it代替动名词作形式主语的两个常用句型:
It’s no use saying any more about it. 再谈这事没有用。
Is it any good trying to explain? 试图作些解释有用吗?
2. 用作表语
My favorite sport is swimming. 我最喜欢的运动是游泳。
His job is looking after sheep. 他的任务是看羊。
Seeing is believing. 眼见为实。
注:不定式和动名词均可用作主语和表语,两者的区别是:动名词多指笼统的、抽象的概念,而不定式则多表示具体的、一次性的动作。
3. 用作宾语
Excuse me for coming late. 对不起我来晚了。
Most students enjoy asking questions in English. 多数学生都喜欢用英语提问。
注:动词用作介词宾语时,通常只用动名词形式,而不用不定式形式,典型的例外是表示“除外”的except和but(它们后接动词作宾语时通常用不定式)。
4. 用作宾语补足语
Can we call this serving mankind? 这能叫为人类服务吗?
I call this robbing Peter to pay Paul. 我管这叫做拆东墙补西墙。
注:动名词用作宾语补足语时,主要动词通常是call。
5. 用作定语
We need a new working method. 我们需要一种新的工作方法。
The doctor told me not take sleeping pills. 医生叫我不要服安眠药。
注:与不定式和现在分词作定语不同,动名词作定语不以短语的形式出现,而且总是位于被修饰名词之前(在许多情况下构成合成名词),用以表示被修饰名词的用途、目的和场合:
reading room 阅览室 operating table 手术台
swimming pool游泳池 singing competition歌咏比赛
drinking water饮用水 washing machine洗衣机
三、动名词的时态与语态
动名词根据语义的需要有主动语态和被动语态之分,同时根据所表示动作与谓语动作的关系有一般式和完成式之别。现以动词do为例将动名词的时态与语态归纳如下:
|
主 动 语 态 |
被动语态 |
一般式 |
doing |
being done |
完成式 |
having done |
having been done |
注:动名词没有进行式和完成进行式。
1. 动名词一般式的用法
动名词的一般式所表示的动作可以与谓语动作同时,也可谓语动作之前或之后,有时可能没有明确的先后关系(www.yygrammar.com):
(1) 与谓语动作同时发生
He kept smiling. 他不停地笑。
Everyone is practising speaking English. 大家都在练习说英语。
We had a good time in dancing with them. 我们同他们跳舞玩得很开心。
(2) 发生在谓语动作之后:
He advised leaving early. 他建议早点离开。
Would you mind opening the window? 可否劳驾把窗子打开?
She is considering changing her job. 她在考虑换个工作。
注:动名词所表示的动作发生谓语动作之后,通常与相关动词或介词等的含义有关。如表示“建议”的动词advise, suggest,表示“推迟”的动词delay, put off,表示“考虑”的动词consider,等等,由于动词本身词义的原因,它们后面用作宾语的动名词所表示的动作通常都发生在谓语动作之后。
(3) 发生在谓语动作之前:
Suddenly everybody stopped talking. 突然大家都停止谈话了。
I remember mailing the letter. 我记得寄了那封信。
After reading your letter I knew what had happened. 看了你的信后我就知道出什么事了。
注:动名词所表示的动作发生谓语动作之前,通常也与相关动词或介词等的含义有关。如动词forget(忘记),regret(后悔),remember(记住),stop(停止),finish(完成),admit(承认)等,它们后接动名词作宾语时,动名词所表示的动作通常都发生在谓动作之前。
(4) 没有明确的先后关系:
Teaching is learning. 教学相长。
The film is worth seeing a second time. 这部电影值得再看一次。
Learning a foreign language is not easy. 学会一门外语是不容易的。
2. 动名词完成式的用法
动名词完成式主要表示发生在谓语动作之前的动作或状态:
He apologized for having broken his promise. 他因没遵守诺言表示道歉。
He forgot having promised to write her. 他忘了曾答应给她写信。
I have no idea of their having done such a thing. 我不知道他们做过那样的事。
注:动名词的一般式和完成式都可表示发生在谓语动作之前的动作,有时两者可互换(用一般式往往显得更简洁):
I remember seeing [having seen] her somewhere. 我记得在什么地方见过她。
Excuse me for not answering [having answered] your letter earlier. 请原谅我没有早点给你回信。
有些不强调动作先后关系或句子本身已表明了先后关系的场合,通常用动名词的一般式:
Thank you for telling me the news. 谢谢你告诉我这消息。
He has worked hard since leaving school. 自从离开学校以来他工作一直很努力。
3. 动名词被动式的用法
当动名词的逻辑主语与动名词为被动关系时,动名词则要用被动式:
He didn’t mind being left at home. 把他留在家里他并不介意。
It felt funny being called Grandmother. 被人叫作祖母感到怪怪的。
This question is far from being settled. 这个问题远没解决。
注:(1) 在表示“需要”的动词need, want, require后接动名词时,习惯上要用主动式表示被动意义(但若用不定式,则用被动式表示被动意义):
The outside of the house needs painting [to be painted] . 这房子外面需要油漆了。
The machine requires repairing [to be repaired]. 这机器需要修理了。
(2) 在be worth后接动名词时也要用主动式表示被动意义:
This might be worth thinking about. 这可能值得考虑。
The clock is hardly worth repairing. 这台钟简直不值得修理。
4. 动名词的被动式
动名词的否定式是将否定词not置于动名词之前。若动名词为完成式或被动式,否定词not应置于整个结构之前:
Don’t be angry with me for not having written. 我没给你写信请别生我的气。
He said he so much regretted not being able to swim. 他说他对不会游泳感到非常遗憾。
注:若动名词带有逻辑主语,则否定词应置于逻辑主语之后:
I’m surprised at your not having noticed. 你竟未注意到我感到吃惊。
Jenny’s not having been trained as a dancer is her one regret. 杰妮没受过舞蹈的专业训练是她感到遗憾的事。
四、习惯上只接动名词作宾语的动词
习惯上只接动名词作宾语的动词有:
admit 承认 advise 建议 allow 允许 appreciate 感激 avoid 避免
consider 考虑 delay 推迟 deny 否认 discuss 讨论 dislike 不喜欢
enjoy 喜爱 escape 逃脱 excuse 原谅 fancy 设想 finish 完成
forbid 禁止 forgive 原谅 give up 放弃 imagine 想像 keep 保持
mention 提及 mind 介意 miss 没赶上 pardon 原谅 permit 允许
practise 练习 prevent 阻止 prohibit 禁止 put off 推迟 report 报告
risk 冒险 stop 停止 suggest 建议(www.yygrammar.com)
I advise waiting a few more days. 我建议再等几天。
I admit breaking the window. 我承认窗子是我打破的。
Try to imagine being on the moon. 设法想像你是在月球上。
He tried to escape being punished. 他没设法逃避惩罚。
You shouldn’t keep thinking about it. 你不应老想着这事。
Would you mind going with her? 你可否同她一起去?
I can’t understand neglecting children like that. 对孩子那样毫不经心,我不能理解。
We only missed seeing each other by five minutes. 我们只因差五分钟而未能见面。
注:(1) 有的动词后接动名词作宾语时通常带有逻辑主语:
The rain prevented his coming. 下雨使他不能来。
Excuse my opening your letter by mistake. 原谅我不慎把你的信拆开。
(2) 有的动词(如advise, allow, forbid, permit等)后虽然不能直接跟不定式作宾语,但可接不定式作宾语补足语:
He advised buying a computer. 他建议买台电脑。
He advised her to buy a computer. 他建议她买台电脑。
(3) 有些动词(如consider, understand, discuss等)虽不接不定式作宾语,却可接“疑问词+不定式”作宾语:
Have you considered how to get there? 你是否考虑过如何到那儿去?
She doesn’t understand how to look after him. 她不知道应如何照顾他。
We discussed what to do and where we should go. 我们讨论了该怎么办及到哪里去。
五、既可接动名词也可接不定式作宾语的动词
1. 可接不定式和动名词且含义相同
这类动词主要有like(喜欢),love(喜欢),hate(憎恨),prefer(宁可),begin(开始),start(开始),continue(继续),can’t bear(不能忍受),bother(麻烦),intend(想要),attempt(试图),cease(停止)等:
He likes to sing [singing]. 他喜欢唱歌。
It has started to rain [raining]. 开始下雨了。
You needn’t bother to come up [coming up]. 你不必费心来了。
The baby continued to cry [crying] all night. 这孩子哭了一整夜。
注: (1) 当 like, love, hate, prefer 与 would, should 连用时,其后只能接不定式:
I’d like to tell you something. 我想告诉你一些情况。
I’d hate to spend Christmas alone. 我不喜欢一个人过圣诞节。
(2) 当 begin, start 本身为进行时态或后接 know, realize, understand 等静态动词时,其后的动词只能用不定式:
He was beginning to cook. 他开始做饭。
He started to realize that he was wrong. 他开始意识到自己错了。
2. 可接不定式和动名词但含义不同
主要有以下情况:
(1) remember(记得),forget(忘记),regret(后悔)后接不定式指该不定式所表示的动作还未发生,后接动名词(有时可用完成式),则指该动名词所表示的动作已经发生。比较:
Remember to post the letter. 记住把这封信寄了。(“寄信”未发生)
I remember posting the letter. 我记得寄了那封信。(“寄信”已发生)
He forgot to pay me the money. 他忘记要给我付钱了。(“付钱”未发生)
He forgot paying me the money. 他忘记曾给我付过钱。(“付钱”发生了)
(2) try 后接不定式表示设法做某事,接动名词表示做某事试试(看有什么效果):
I’ll try to come tomorrow. 我明天设法来(www.yygrammar.com)。
Let’s try knocking at the back door. 咱们敲敲后门试试。
(3) mean 后接不定式表示打算(想要)做某事,接动名词表示意味着(要)做某事:
He means to be a teacher. 他打算当老师。
He did not mean to hurt you. 他不是有意要伤害你。
This illness will mean going to hospital. 得了这种病就意味着要住院。
(4) stop 后接动名词表示停止做某事,接不定式表示停下正在做的事去做另一事:
He stopped speaking, and there was not a sound in the room. 他停止讲话,房里一点声音也没有了。
He stopped to listen, but there was no more sound. 他停下来听,但再也没有听到什么声音。
注:后接不定式时,不定式不是宾语,而是目的状语。
(5) can’t help后接动名词表示禁不住去做某事,接不定式表示不能帮助做某事:
He couldn’t help crying when he heard the news. 他听到这个消息时禁不住哭了。
The medicine can’t help to get rid of your cold. 这药不能帮你治好感冒。
(6) go on 后接不定式表示做完某事后接着做另一事,接动名词表示继续做正在做的事:
You oughtn’t to go on living this way. 你不应该再这样生活下去了。
Go on to do the other exercises after you have finished this one. 做完这个练习后, 请接着做其他的练习。
注:也人认为go on doing sth中的doing是现在分词而不是动名词。
3. 三个表“需要”的动词
在 need, want, require这三个表示“需要”的动词后,接不定式和动名词均可,且含义也相同,但是语态不同:接动名词时用主动式表示被动含义,接不定式时则要用被动式表示被动含义:
My coat needs mending [to be cleaned]. 我的外套需要缝补一下。
Your coat wants brushing [to be brushed]. 你的大衣需要刷一刷。
六、动名词的逻辑主语
1. 基本原则
动名词的逻辑主语原则上是在动名词前用物主代词或名词所有格:
His coming late made the teacher angry. 他迟到使老师生气了。
Would you mind my opening the door? 劳驾你打开窗户好吗?
Please excuse my interrupting you. 请原谅我打断你的话。
2. 几个注意点
(1) 口语中通常用宾格代词或名词普通格用于动名词作逻辑主语:
We’re all looking forward to your [you] coming. 我们都盼望你来。
Can you imagine Peter [Peter’s] saying such a thing? 你能想像他说出这样的话吗?
(2) 当位于句首时,通常要用名词所有格或物主代词作动名词的逻辑主语:
Mary’s going there is of no help. 玛丽去那儿没什么帮助。
注:即使用于句首的作主语的动名词移至句末而在句首使用形式主语it,其逻辑主语也通常用物主代词:
It’s a waste of time your talking to him. 你和他谈是浪费时间。
It’s doesn’t make much difference my being there. 我在不在那儿没有什么影响。
(3) 当动名词的逻辑主语是没有生命的东西时,通常不用物主代词或名词所有格:
I look forward to it getting warmer in spring. 我盼望春天天气变暖。
七、重点考点原创精练
1. Please excuse me ______ your letter by mistake.
A. to open B. to have opened C. for opening D. in opening
2. Certainly I posted your letter ― I remember _______ it.
A. posting B. to post C. to be posting D. have posted
3. They must be at home ― there’s a light _______ in the bedroom.
A. to shine B. to be shining C. shining D. having shined
4. If the car won’t start, ______ it.(www.yygrammar.com)
A. try push B. try pushing C. to try pushing D. to try to push
5. Mr Smith dislikes ______ such clothes but his wife likes _____ them.
A. to wear, to wear B. to wear, wearing
C. wearing, to wear D. wearing, wear
6. _____ is a good form of exercise for both young and old.
A. Walk B. Walking C. The walk D. To walk
7. When you’re learning to drive, _____ a good teacher makes a big difference.
A. have B. having C. and have D. and having
8. _____ this report _____ in such a short time was quite a difficult exercise.
A. Getting, done B. Get, done C. To get, to do D. Getting, to do
9. I regret _______what I said. I shouldn’t have said it.
A. to say B. saying C. to be saying D. said
10. I shall never forget _______ the
A. to see B. seeing C. saw D. being seeing
11. In the whole interview, he tried to avoid _______ their questions.
A. to answer B. answering C. to have answered D. having answered
12. He was lucky and narrowly missed _______.
A. to injure B. injuring C. to be injured D. being injured
13. I understand _______ to discuss the matter.
A. your not wanting B. not your wanting
C. you not to want D. you to not want
14. Don’t be late. No one would like ________.
A. to be kept waiting B. being kept waiting
C. to be kept to wait D. being kept to wait
15. He can’t make himself _______. His spoken English really needs ________.
A. understand, improving B. understood, improving
C. understand, to improve D. understood, to improve
参考答案:
01―05 CACBC 06―10 DBABB 11―15 BDAAB