动名词实际上是具有动词性质的名词,因此它可以做名词可以作的句子成分。动名词可以在句子中用作宾语。如:
I enjoy singing.我喜欢唱歌。
He always avoids offending others.
他总是避免冒犯别人。
My brother enjoys dancing disco.
我弟弟喜欢调迪斯科。
She always advises saying quietly.
她经常建议小声说话。
1.作动词的宾语
某些动词后出现非限定性动词时只能用动名词作宾语,不能用不定式。常见的此类动词有:admit,appreciate,excuse,stand,advise,allow,permit,avoid,consider,enjoy,finish,give up,cannot help(can't help),imagine,include,keep,understand,keep on,mind,report,risk,miss,put off,delay,practise,resist,suggest,depend on,think about,set about,succeed in,worry about,burst out,insist on,feel like,be used to,get used to,devote…to…,look forward to,pay attention to,get down to,escape 等。如:
They went on walking and never stopped talking.
他们继续走,说个不停。
I found it pleasant walking along the seashore.
在海滩上走真是乐事。
Mark often attempts to escape being fined whenever he breaks traffic regulations.
每当马克违反交通规则时,他常常企图逃避罚款的处分。
有些动词之后既可接动词不定式,又可接动名词,可把这类动词分为三种类型:两种形式所表达的含义基本相同,可以互换。这类动词有:attempt ,begin,cease,continue,intend,omit,start,cannot bear,decline,disdain,loathe,neglect,commence。例如:
They ceased talking/to talk.
他们停止说话。
Prices will continue to rise/rising.
物价将继续上扬。
What do you intend to do/doing next?
你下一步打算干什么?
宾语用不定式和动名词所表达的含义略有变化。用不定式作宾语时,表示特定的一次性的未来动作;用动名词则表示一般的行为,或者是目前正在进行的行为。也可以说,动名词表示泛指的动作,而不定式表示特指的动作。常这样用的动词有:hate,like,love,prefer,dread等。例如:
Woula you like to go with me?
你想跟我一起走吗?
He preferred to do this rather than do that.
他宁愿做这件事,而不愿做那件事。
2.作介词的宾语
动词+介词+动名词,例如:
The rain prevented us from completing the work.
下雨妨碍我们完成工作。
She complains of the book being too difficult.
她抱怨这本书太难。
形容词+介词+动名词,例如:
I know who is responsible for breaking the window.
我知道窗户是谁打破的。
名词+介词+动名词,例如:
There are many ways of doing it.
有许多方法可以做这件事。
We are thinking of making a new plan for the next term.
我们正考虑为下学期制定新的计划。
Shall we have a rest or get down to doing our work?
我们休息呢还是开始干活?
there be和it is也可变为动名词there being 和it being与介词连用。例如:
The car stooped because of there being no fuel in the tank.
因为油箱里没有油,所以汽车停了下来。
介词+动名词也可在句中作状语,表示时间、条件等。例如:
On leaving school,he went into business.
一离开学校,他就投身到商业中去了。
3.作形容词的宾语
The music is well worth listening to more than once.
这种曲子很值得多听几遍。
We are busy preparing for the coming sports meet.
我们正为马上到来的运动会忙着做准备。