動(dòng)名詞是一種兼有動(dòng)詞和名詞特征的非限定動(dòng)詞。它可以支配賓語，也能被副詞修飾。動(dòng)名詞有時(shí)態(tài)和語態(tài)的變化。
一、動(dòng)名詞的作用
動(dòng)名詞具有名詞的性質(zhì)，因此在句中可以做主語、表語、賓語、定語等。
1、做主語
Reading is an art. 讀書是一種藝術(shù)。
Climbing mountains is really fun. 爬山是真有趣。
Working in these conditions is not a pleasure but a suffer. 在這種工作條件下工作不是愉快而是痛苦。
動(dòng)名詞做主語，有時(shí)先用it作形式主語，把動(dòng)名詞置于句末。這種用法在習(xí)慣句型中常用。如：
It is no use/no good crying over spilt milk. 灑掉的牛奶哭也沒用。
It is a waste of time persuading such a person to join us. 勸說這樣的人加入真是浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。
It was hard getting on the crowded street car. 上這種擁擠的車真難。
It is fun playing with children. 和孩子們一起玩真好。
There is no joking about such matters. 對這種事情不是開玩笑。
2、作賓語
（1）作動(dòng)詞的賓語
某些動(dòng)詞后出現(xiàn)非限定性動(dòng)詞時(shí)只能用動(dòng)名詞作賓語，不能用不定式。常見的此類動(dòng)詞有：advise, allow, permit, avoid, consider, enjoy, finish, give up, cannot help, imagine, include, keep, keep on, mind, miss, put off, delay, practise, resist, suggest, depend on, think about, set about, succeed in, worry about, burst out, insist on, can’t stand, be used to, get used to, devote…to…, look forward to, pay attention to, get down to等。如：
They went on walking and never stopped talking. 他們繼續(xù)走，說個(gè)不停。
I found it pleasant walking along the seashore. 在海灘上走真是樂事。
（2）作介詞的賓語
We are thinking of making a new plan for the next term. 我們正考慮為下學(xué)期制定新的計(jì)劃。Shall we have a rest or get down to doing our work? 我們休息呢還是開始干活？
（3）作形容詞的賓語
The music is well worth listening to more than once. 這種曲子很值得多聽幾遍。
We are busy preparing for the coming sports meet. 我們正為馬上到來的運(yùn)動(dòng)會(huì)忙著做準(zhǔn)備。
3、作表語
動(dòng)名詞作表語時(shí)句子主語常是表示無生命的事物的名詞或what引導(dǎo)的名詞性從句。表語動(dòng)名詞與主語通常是對等的關(guān)系，表示主語的內(nèi)容，主語、表語可互換位置。
Your task is cleaning the windows. 你的任務(wù)就是擦窗戶。(Cleaning the windows is your task.)
What I hate most is being laughed at. 我最痛恨的就是被別人嘲笑。 (Being laughed at is what I hate most.)
4、作定語
動(dòng)名詞作定語往往表示被修飾詞的某種用途。如：
a walking stick ＝a stick for walking=a stick which is used for walking
a washing machine=a machine for washing=a machine which is used for washing
a reading room=a room for reading=a room which is used for reading
a measuring tape=a tape for measuring=a tape which is used for measuring
sleeping pills=pills for sleeping=pills which is used for sleeping
二、動(dòng)名詞的邏輯主語
帶有邏輯主語的動(dòng)名詞稱為動(dòng)名詞的復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)。當(dāng)動(dòng)名詞的邏輯主語與句子的主語不一致時(shí)，要在動(dòng)名詞之前加上物主代詞或名詞所有格，這便構(gòu)成了動(dòng)名詞的復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)。其中物主代詞（名詞所有格）是邏輯上的主語，動(dòng)名詞是邏輯上的謂語。動(dòng)名詞復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)在句中可作主語、賓語、表語等，分別相當(dāng)于一個(gè)主語從句、賓語從句、表語從句。如：
Her coming to help encouraged all of us. 他來幫忙鼓舞了我。 (=That she came to help encouraged all of us.)
Jane’s being careless caused so much trouble. 簡這么粗心惹來了不少麻煩。 (=That Jane was careless caused so much trouble.)
What’s troubling them is their not having enough food. 煩擾他們的是食物不足。 (=What’s troubling them is that they have not enough food.)
在口語中，如果動(dòng)名詞復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)作賓語，其中的物主代詞常用人稱代詞賓格，名詞所有格常用名詞普通格來代替，但在句首作主語時(shí)不能這樣來代替。如：
Would you mind my/me using your computer? 用下你的電腦介意嗎？
The father insisted on his son’s/his son going to college. 爸爸堅(jiān)決要求兒子上大學(xué)。
Mary’s (不可用Mary) being ill made her mother upset. 瑪麗病了，使她媽媽很著急。
His (不可用Him)smoking made his family angry. 他抽煙使他一家人非常生氣。
在下列情況下動(dòng)名詞的邏輯主語必須用名詞的普通格或人稱代詞賓語：
a.無命名詞
The baby was made awake by the door suddenly shutting. 這個(gè)嬰兒被猛烈的關(guān)門聲吵醒。
b. 有生命名詞但表示泛指意義
Have you ever heard of women practising boxing? 你聽說過婦女練拳擊嗎？
c. 兩個(gè)以上的有生命名詞并列
Do you remember your parents and me telling about this? 你記得你父母和我都告訴過你這事嗎？
三、動(dòng)名詞的時(shí)態(tài)和語態(tài)
動(dòng)名詞的時(shí)態(tài)和語態(tài)如下圖所示：
語態(tài)
時(shí)態(tài)
主動(dòng)語態(tài)
被動(dòng)語態(tài)
一般式
writing
being written
完成式
having written
having been written
其否定形式是在doing前加上not
1、動(dòng)名詞一般式表示的動(dòng)作通常是一般性動(dòng)作，即不是明確地發(fā)生在過去、現(xiàn)在或?qū)淼膭?dòng)作，或是與謂語動(dòng)詞所表示的動(dòng)作同時(shí)發(fā)生的動(dòng)作。如：
I hate talking with such people. 我討厭與這樣的人說話。
Being careless is not a good habit. 粗心不是一個(gè)好習(xí)慣。
2、動(dòng)名詞的完成式表示的動(dòng)作發(fā)生在謂語動(dòng)詞動(dòng)作之前。如：
I don’t remember having met him before. 我記不得以前見過他。
Thank you for having taking so much trouble to help. 謝謝你費(fèi)力幫忙。
3、動(dòng)名詞的邏輯主語同時(shí)也是動(dòng)名詞動(dòng)作的承受者，動(dòng)名詞用被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
（1）它的一般式表示的動(dòng)作與謂語動(dòng)詞動(dòng)作同時(shí)發(fā)生，或在其前發(fā)生。如：
I don’t like being laughed at in public. 在公共場合下，我不喜歡被別人嘲笑。
（2）它的完成式表示的動(dòng)作發(fā)生在謂語動(dòng)詞之前。如：
I am very pleased at your having been honoured with a medal. 我很高興你能獲得這樣的獎(jiǎng)牌。
（3）在某些動(dòng)詞，我們常用動(dòng)名詞的一般式表示完成式，盡管動(dòng)作發(fā)生在謂語動(dòng)詞動(dòng)作之前，這似乎是一種強(qiáng)大的習(xí)慣。如：
Excuse me for being late. 我來晚了請你原諒。
I don’t remember ever meeting somewhere. 我記不得原來在什么地方見過。
Thank you for giving us so much help. 謝謝給我們這么大的幫助。
（4）在多數(shù)情況下都避免使用動(dòng)名詞被動(dòng)語態(tài)完成式，而用一般式代替，以免句子顯得累贅，尤其是在口語中。如：
I forget once being taken (having been taken ) to the city zoo. 我曾被帶到過這個(gè)動(dòng)物園，可我忘了。
（5）動(dòng)名詞被動(dòng)語態(tài)一般式與現(xiàn)在分詞被動(dòng)語態(tài)一般式同形，但無進(jìn)行意義，being不可省略。如：
She is afraid of being taken to the public. 她怕被領(lǐng)到大眾面前。