1.動詞不定式
例1:a lot of young people are learning to drive cars. (同時發生)
例2:all of us expected to discover a new oil field. (非謂語動詞動作發生在後)
例3:he is said to have studied english for three years. (非謂語動詞動作發生在前)
註:動詞不定式的完成式有時用在intended, expected, meant, were to, was to等過去式的動詞後面,表示未實現的行為。例如:
1)i meant to have sent the book to you by mail. (我本想把這本書郵寄給你的。)
2)he was to have been the new ambassador, but he fell ill. (他原是要任新大使的,但是他病了。)
2.動名詞
例1:i am thinking of getting a new dictionary. (非謂語動詞動作發生在後)
例2:we enjoy watching colour tv. (與謂語動詞動作同時)
例3:he forgot having promised to write things for us. (非謂語動詞動作發生在前。)
3.分詞
例1:singing a song, he came into the room. (非謂語動詞動作與謂語動詞動作同時發生)
例2:having written his composition, he went to have a heart to heart talk with wang. (非謂語動詞動作發生在前)
非謂語動詞的比較
1.動名詞和動詞不定式在用法上的比較
(1)一般說來動名詞所表示的動作在意義上是比較抽象的、一般的,時間概念不強,不是指某一次的動作;而動詞不定式所表示的動作則往往是具體的一次行為。例如:
1)i like swimming, but i don't like to swim today.
2) they prefer staying indoors when the weather is cold.
3) would you prefer to stay at home this evening?
(2)動詞不定式的邏輯主語,常常是句子的主語或句中的某個詞;而動名詞的邏輯主語可能是句子主語或句中某個詞,也可能是泛指一般人物,在句子裡是找不著的。例如:
1)i hate to be sitting idle. (我不想閒坐著。)(指自己)
2)i hate saying nothing at a meeting but gossiping afterwards. (我不喜歡開會不說會後亂說。)(可能指自己,也可能泛指一般人)