动名词和现在分词：两种不同概念的非谓语动词

【现在分词作定语】

现在分词作定语，说明被修饰语和现在分词是“主谓关系”。既如此，就可以扩展为一个定语从句，该定语从句多为进行时态。例如：

a sleeping baby → a baby who is sleeping.

a barking dog→ a dog that is barking

flying birds → birds that are flying

smiling faces →faces that are smiling

a floating boat → a boat that is floating

falling leaves → leaves that are falling

boiling water → water that is boiling

the setting sun → the sun that is setting

the rising sun → the sun that is rising

the coming week → the week that will come

the following questions→ the questions that follow

running water → water that is running

a developing country→ a country that is developing

the suffering people → people who are suffering

a missing child→ a child who is missing

现在分词短语作定语，都是置于被修饰语之后。单个的现在分词作定语跟动名词作定语，一般都置于被修饰词之前。正确判断是哪种形式作定语，有利于我们理解词组甚至整个句子的准确含义。

但有时这种区别并不明显，比如a sewing machine（缝纫机）可以理解为a machine for sewing，或者a machine which can sew; a hunting dog（猎狗）可以理解为a dog for hunting，或者a dog that hunts。前一种解释是看作动名词，后一种解释是看作现在分词。

（二）动名词作表语和现在分词作表语

1. Her job is looking after children.

2. Her job is boring.

句1的意思是：“她的工作是照料孩子。”这是动名词短语looking after children作表语。因为is是系动词，主语和表语是平等的并列关系，所以可以互换而意思保持不变：Looking after children is her job.　

句2的意思是：“她的工作很无聊。” 这是现在分词boring作表语，表明boring具备了形容词的作用。由于它是由使令性动词bore变化而来，具有很强的主动使令意味。所以，可以转换为一个主谓宾的句子：Her job bores her. “她的工作令她厌倦。”

因为动名词几乎具备了名词的全部语法特征，所以既然名词能作表语，那么动名词完全可以作表语。例如：

His hobby is collecting stamps. 他的业余爱好是集邮。

His ambition is working as a lawyer. 他的抱负是当律师。

The only way to cure your disease is going to bed. 治疗你的病的唯一办法是上床睡觉。

Her job is keeping the offices clean. 她的工作是给办公室保洁。

Her work is teaching children music. 她的工作是教孩子音乐。

His only wish is finding a job in an office. 他唯一的愿望就是找一份办公室的工作。

The ant queen’s full-time job is laying eggs. 蚁后的专职工作是产卵。

The boy’s hobby is playing games online. 这个男孩的爱好就是玩网上游戏。

My favourite sport is playing tennis.我最喜欢的运动是打网球。

Her first delight was going to the Tower. 她第一个想做的事情是参观伦敦塔。