字尾加 ing 的動詞
字尾有 ing 的動詞不是「現在分詞」就是「動名詞」，這兩種動詞型態看起來是一樣的，差異在於它們在句中的作用。
現在分詞
現在分詞普遍用於動詞進行式的一部份、感知動詞後、行進動詞後或用作形容詞。
現在分詞用作動詞進行式的一部份
現在分詞是所有進行式時態的動詞的要素，包括過去進行式、現在進行式、未來進行式、進行條件式等。助動詞會表明時態，而現在分詞則維持不變。
舉例
- He is painting.
- She was waiting.
- They will be coming.
- We would be staying.
- I would have been leaving.
在感知動詞後的現在分詞
現在分詞可以用在感知動詞後，表達被感受到的動作。句型為：動詞 + 受詞 + 現在分詞。
舉例
- We saw him swimming across the pond.
- I watched her painting Sarah's portrait.
- I couldn't hear her singing because of the noise.
- I would like to see you knitting sometime.
表示行進、動作或姿勢的動詞後面接現在分詞，表達並行的動作。
舉例
- She sat looking at the sea.
- He walks reading his newspaper.
- I cook listening to the radio.
- Sally lay listening to the bugs in the grass.
將現在分詞用作形容詞
舉例
- Did you read that amazing book?
- This movie is so exciting!
- His economics class is boring.
進一步了解如何使用現在分詞。
動名詞
動名詞雖然看起來像動詞，但它跟名詞的作用和用法都一樣。
將動名詞用作句子的主詞
舉例
- Eating people is wrong.
- Driving too fast is dangerous.
- Walking is good for you.
- Your knitting is beautiful.
介系詞後接動名詞
舉例
- Can you sneeze without opening your mouth?
- She is good at painting.
- I was the fastest at climbing the rope.
- He learns music by listening to the chords.
在特定動詞後加動名詞
舉例
- I like cooking.
- He enjoys walking.
- They hate milking cows.
- I can imagine drifting away in a balloon.
複合名詞中的動名詞
舉例
- I took her to her driving lessons.
- We are going to the swimming pool.
- My uncle does a lot of bird-watching.
- I found this pie by dumpster-diving.
進一步了解如何使用動名詞。