动名词是一种兼有动词和名词特征的非限定动词。它可以支配宾语，也能被副词修饰。动名词有时态和语态的变化。
一、动名词的作用
动名词具有名词的性质，因此在句中可以做主语、表语、宾语、定语等。
1、做主语
Reading is an art. 读书是一种艺术。
Climbing mountains is really fun. 爬山是真有趣。
Working in these conditions is not a pleasure but a suffer. 在这种工作条件下工作不是愉快而是痛苦。
动名词做主语，有时先用it作形式主语，把动名词置于句末。这种用法在习惯句型中常用。如：
It is no use/no good crying over spilt milk. 洒掉的牛奶哭也没用。
It is a waste of time persuading such a person to join us. 劝说这样的人加入真是浪费时间。
It was hard getting on the crowded street car. 上这种拥挤的车真难。
It is fun playing with children. 和孩子们一起玩真好。
There is no joking about such matters. 对这种事情不是开玩笑。
2、作宾语
（1）作动词的宾语
某些动词后出现非限定性动词时只能用动名词作宾语，不能用不定式。常见的此类动词有：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. 他们继续走，说个不停。
I found it pleasant walking along the seashore. 在海滩上走真是乐事。
（2）作介词的宾语
We are thinking of making a new plan for the next term. 我们正考虑为下学期制定新的计划。Shall we have a rest or get down to doing our work? 我们休息呢还是开始干活？
（3）作形容词的宾语
The music is well worth listening to more than once. 这种曲子很值得多听几遍。
We are busy preparing for the coming sports meet. 我们正为马上到来的运动会忙着做准备。
3、作表语
动名词作表语时句子主语常是表示无生命的事物的名词或what引导的名词性从句。表语动名词与主语通常是对等的关系，表示主语的内容，主语、表语可互换位置。
Your task is cleaning the windows. 你的任务就是擦窗户。(Cleaning the windows is your task.)
What I hate most is being laughed at. 我最痛恨的就是被别人嘲笑。 (Being laughed at is what I hate most.)
4、作定语
动名词作定语往往表示被修饰词的某种用途。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、动名词的逻辑主语
带有逻辑主语的动名词称为动名词的复合结构。当动名词的逻辑主语与句子的主语不一致时，要在动名词之前加上物主代词或名词所有格，这便构成了动名词的复合结构。其中物主代词（名词所有格）是逻辑上的主语，动名词是逻辑上的谓语。动名词复合结构在句中可作主语、宾语、表语等，分别相当于一个主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句。如：
Her coming to help encouraged all of us. 他来帮忙鼓舞了我。 (=That she came to help encouraged all of us.)
Jane’s being careless caused so much trouble. 简这么粗心惹来了不少麻烦。 (=That Jane was careless caused so much trouble.)
What’s troubling them is their not having enough food. 烦扰他们的是食物不足。 (=What’s troubling them is that they have not enough food.)
在口语中，如果动名词复合结构作宾语，其中的物主代词常用人称代词宾格，名词所有格常用名词普通格来代替，但在句首作主语时不能这样来代替。如：
Would you mind my/me using your computer? 用下你的电脑介意吗？
The father insisted on his son’s/his son going to college. 爸爸坚决要求儿子上大学。
Mary’s (不可用Mary) being ill made her mother upset. 玛丽病了，使她妈妈很着急。
His (不可用Him)smoking made his family angry. 他抽烟使他一家人非常生气。
在下列情况下动名词的逻辑主语必须用名词的普通格或人称代词宾语：
a.无命名词
The baby was made awake by the door suddenly shutting. 这个婴儿被猛烈的关门声吵醒。
b. 有生命名词但表示泛指意义
Have you ever heard of women practising boxing? 你听说过妇女练拳击吗？
c. 两个以上的有生命名词并列
Do you remember your parents and me telling about this? 你记得你父母和我都告诉过你这事吗？
三、动名词的时态和语态
动名词的时态和语态如下图所示：
语态
时态
主动语态
被动语态
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、动名词一般式表示的动作通常是一般性动作，即不是明确地发生在过去、现在或将来的动作，或是与谓语动词所表示的动作同时发生的动作。如：
I hate talking with such people. 我讨厌与这样的人说话。
Being careless is not a good habit. 粗心不是一个好习惯。
2、动名词的完成式表示的动作发生在谓语动词动作之前。如：
I don’t remember having met him before. 我记不得以前见过他。
Thank you for having taking so much trouble to help. 谢谢你费力帮忙。
3、动名词的逻辑主语同时也是动名词动作的承受者，动名词用被动语态。
（1）它的一般式表示的动作与谓语动词动作同时发生，或在其前发生。如：
I don’t like being laughed at in public. 在公共场合下，我不喜欢被别人嘲笑。
（2）它的完成式表示的动作发生在谓语动词之前。如：
I am very pleased at your having been honoured with a medal. 我很高兴你能获得这样的奖牌。
（3）在某些动词，我们常用动名词的一般式表示完成式，尽管动作发生在谓语动词动作之前，这似乎是一种强大的习惯。如：
Excuse me for being late. 我来晚了请你原谅。
I don’t remember ever meeting somewhere. 我记不得原来在什么地方见过。
Thank you for giving us so much help. 谢谢给我们这么大的帮助。
（4）在多数情况下都避免使用动名词被动语态完成式，而用一般式代替，以免句子显得累赘，尤其是在口语中。如：
I forget once being taken (having been taken ) to the city zoo. 我曾被带到过这个动物园，可我忘了。
（5）动名词被动语态一般式与现在分词被动语态一般式同形，但无进行意义，being不可省略。如：
She is afraid of being taken to the public. 她怕被领到大众面前。