1. 分词作定语
  1) 分词作定语既可以放在所修饰的词之前,作前置定语,也可以放在所修饰的词后面,作后置定语。其作用相当于一个定语从句。例如:
  Where are the reserved seats? (=Where are the seats which have been reserved?)
  预定的座位在哪里?This is a pressing problem. (=This is a problem which is pressing.)这是一个紧迫的问题。
  2) 分词作后置定语可分为限制性(紧跟在所修饰的中心词之后)和非限制性(用逗号与其所修饰的中心词分开)两种,其作用分别相当于一个限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句。例如:
  The funds raised (= which have been raised) are mainly used for helping the homeless.筹集的资金主要用来帮助那些无家可归的人。
  There are many students waiting (= who are waiting) to get examined.有许多学生在等待检查。
  This book, written (= which is written) in simple English, is suitable for beginners.本书是用浅显的英语写的,适合初学者。
  3) 分词常和形容词、副词或名词构成合成形容词作定语。例如:
  The flower-carrying girl must be waiting for someone.那位手持鲜花的姑娘一定在等人。
  The newly-built building is our office building.这座新建的大楼是我们的办公楼。
  4) 有些不及物动词的过去分词作定语,并不表示被动的意思而是表示完成。这类过去分词常作前置修饰语。例如:
  There are a lot of fallen leaves in autumn.秋天有许多落叶。
  The film describes the story about the police who pursue an escaped man.这部电影描述的是警察抓逃犯的事。
  常用的这一类词有:fallen, faded, returned, retired, risen, grown up, vanished等。
2. 分词作宾语补足语
  1) 跟分词作宾补的动词有:catch, have get, keep, hear, find, feel, leave, make, want, start, notice, observe, watch, set等。例如:
  When they returned home from the holiday, they found their house stolen.当他们度假完回到家时,发现房子被盗了。(过去分词表示被动)
  2) 在复合宾语中,用现在分词作宾补,说明宾语是动作的发出者,形成逻辑上的主谓关系;用过去分词作宾补,表示宾语是动作的承受者,构成逻辑上的动宾关系。例如:
  There was so much noise that the speaker couldn"t make himself heard.由于十分吵闹,讲话人没法让人听到他的声音。
  When he awoke, he found himself being looked after by an old woman.他醒来的时候发现一位老大娘正在照顾他。
3. 分词作状语
  1) 分词或分词短语作状语时,可以表示时间、原因、让步、条件、方式或伴随状况。通常可转换成相应的状语从句;表示方式或伴随状况的可以转换成并列句或非限制性定语从句。例如:
  Confined to bed (= Because she was confined to bed), she needed to be waited on in everything. 她卧病在床,什么事都需要人伺候。(作原因状语)
  Having only book knowledge (= If you only have book knowledge), you will not beable to work well. 如果只有书本知识,你就不可能做好工作。(作条件状语)
  They stood there waiting for the bus. (=They stood there and waited for the bus.) 他们站在那里等公共汽车。(作方式状语)
  2) 现在分词和过去分词作状语时的用法比较
  不管是现在分词还是过去分词作状语,如果单独作状语,其逻辑主语必须和主句的主语一致。分词作状语通常可以转换成一个相应的状语从句,如果状语从句中的谓语动词为被动结构,就用过去分词;如果状语从句中的谓语动词为主动结构,就用现在分词。有时为了强调,分词前可带连词when, while, if, though, as if, unless等一起作状语,以便使句子的意思更清楚、更连贯。例如:Working hard (If you work hard), you will succeed. 如果你努力,你会成功的。
  Defeated (= Though he was defeated), he remained a popular boxer. 虽然他被击败了,但他仍然是一个受人喜爱的拳击手。
4. 分词的独立结构
  1) 分词作状语时,要特别注意其逻辑主语必须和谓语动词的主语一致。否则,分词必须有自己的主语,这种带主语的分词被称为分词的独立结构,或叫独立主格。在句中作状语,表示时间、原因、条件等。例如:The project finished, they had a two weeks" leave. 完成那个计划后,他们休了两周假。
  He being absent, nothing could be done. 由于他缺席,什么事也没法干。
  2) 独立结构有时也可以用“with/ without +名词(或代词的宾语)+ 分词”的结构,表示伴随状况。例如:
  They sat there silently, (with) their eyes fixedon the lake. 他们静静地坐在那里,眼睛看着湖面。
  With him helping me, I felt lucky. 有他的帮助,我感到很幸运。
5 . 容易混淆的现在分词和过去分词
  像 interesting 和 interested 一类的分词在意义和用法上很容易混淆,一般可作如下区分:
  ( 1 )一部分表示“情感;心情”等意义的动词的现在分词有“令人……的;具有……性质的”的意思,常用来说明人或事物的特征或性质。如:The president made an inspiring speech at the meeting yesterday.
  ( 2 )它们的过去分词有“感到……的”的意思,用来指人的感觉或所处的状态,因而它的主语一般不可能是指物的词。如:He was too excited to fall asleep.
  这类容易混淆的分词常见的有: encouraging, encouraged; disappointing, disappointed; exciting, excited; inspiring, inspired; interesting, interested; puzzling, puzzled; astonishing, astonished; surprising, surprised 等。