在英語裡，我們可以用現在分詞(present participles)或現在分詞短語(present participial phrases)充當副詞修飾動詞。這是英語中一種極為普遍的句子結構，在書面語中，用得甚多，表示的意義也有好幾種。現在分述如下：
⒈表示辦事方法或行動方式，如： ● Feeling his way along the rocks, the mountaineer reached the peak of the hill.
● Flinging her arm before her face, the small girl pretended to burst into tears.
⒉表示伴隨狀況，如： ● The two men shook hands, smiling at each other.
● The demonstrators marched through the street, chanting political slogans.
● Irene saw her husband glance toward her, disapproving.
● A few friends of the victim stood outside the house, still with a sense of shock, conversing quietly.
⒊表示原因，如： ● Living in a city, we enjoy a lot of modern amenities.
● Meeting with a cold reception at his relatives' house, the old man left in a rage.
● Having heard the story before, Joelle did not heed it any more.
● Being written in a hurry, the essay was fraught with errors.
⒋.表示時間，如： ● Reaching the dilapidated castle, they slowed down their pace.
● Finding the hidden treasure , they discussed how to divide it.
● Arriving at the seaside , the picnickers pitched their tent for the night.
這裡要注意的是：用來表示時間的分詞短語必須擺在句首，用以說明分詞短語中的時間一過，謂語動詞的時間便開始。
如果要強調分詞短語的時間比謂語動詞的時間早些過去，那末分詞短語裡的時態就要用完成時態(perfect tense)，如：
● Having realised that they had lagged behind , Tom and Harry started to quicken their pace.
● The couple, having seen their son off, returned home without saying anything.
⒌表示「目的、結果」的意思，如： ● The two parties sat down to talk, hoping to avoid further conflict.
● We have talked a lot about language teaching, often forgetting that it is learning that really matters.
● The old man's hair came out by the roots, leaving him bald.