現在分詞和過去分詞主要差別在於：現在分詞表示"主動和進行"，過去分詞表示"被動和完成"(不及物動詞的過去分詞不表示被動，只表示完成)。分詞可以有自己的狀語、賓語或邏輯主語等。
1、分詞作狀語分詞在句子中作狀語，可以表示時間、條件、原因、結果、讓步、伴隨等。 分詞做狀語時，它的邏輯主語與句子的主語一致。作狀語的分詞相當於一個狀語從句。
【例如】
hearing the news, they all jumped with joy. using what you know of word stems and word formations, you can make a guess at the meaning of a new word.
the students went out of the classroom, laughing and talking. accompanied by his friend, he went to the railway station. given better attention, the plants could grow better.
he looked tired and depressed, visibly disturbed by the news of his mother's illness.
分詞在句子中作狀語，使用何種分詞，要取決於分詞與句子主語的關係：主謂關係用現在分詞，動賓或被動關係用過去分詞。
【例如】
taught by mistakes and setbacks, we have become wiser and handled our affairs better. (we are taught/teach us) .inspired by the international, the working people of all countries have been fighting for their final liberation. (the working people were inspired/ inspire the working people)____the earth to be flat, many feared that columbus would fall off the edge.
a) having believed b) believing c) believed d) being believed
本句意思為：相信地球是平的，許多人擔心哥倫布會從邊上掉下去。許多人與相信之間是主謂關係，及分詞與主語之間為主謂關係。因此，套用現在分詞，答案為b.
no matter how frequently ____, the works of beethoven always attract large audiences.