動名詞的一般式的語法特點

1. 與主要動作同時發生。如：

My shoe laces keep coming undone. 我的鞋帶老是松開。

Try to imagine being on the moon. 設法想象你是在月球上。

He continued reading when I spoke to him. 我同他說話時，他仍在繼續閱讀。

I had the greatest difficulty in persuading him. 為了說服他，我費了好大的力氣。

2. 后于主要動作發生：當動名詞用于advise, suggest, insist on等動詞后作賓語時，它所表示的動作常發生在主要動作之后。如：

I advise waiting till proper time. 我建議等到適當時機。

He insisted on seeing us home. 他一定要送我們回家。

He suggested moving to the country. 他建議搬到鄉下去。

3. 先于主要動作發生：當動名詞用于admit, deny, forget, regret, remember等動詞后作賓語，表示的動作通常發生在主要動作之前。如：

I admit breaking the window. 我承認窗子是我打破的。

She denied seeing me. 她否認看見過我。

I’ll never forget meeting you that afternoon. 我永遠不會忘記那天下午見到你的情況。

I regret missing the film. 我懊悔沒有看上那部電影。

I remember being taken to Paris as a small child. 我記得我在兒時被帶到巴黎過。

4. 視相關詞的意義而定：當動名詞用于介詞before, after, since之后作賓語時，動作的先后依介詞before, after的意義而定。如：

Don’t bathe immediately after eating. 不要吃飯后就游泳。

She waited a little while before making up her mind. 她等一會兒才做出決定。

She’s been quite different since coming back from America. 自打從美國回來她可變了樣了。

5. 表示泛指意義：當動名詞表示泛指意義的動作或狀態時，沒有時間意義。如：

Being lost can be a terrifying experience. 迷路有時很可怕。

It's hard work climbing mountains. 爬山是費勁的事。

Selling your house can be a tiresome business. 賣房子有時候是很麻煩的事。

Being deaf and dumb makes communication very difficult. 又聾又啞很難與人交往。