現在分詞和過去分詞主要差別在於：現在分詞表示「主動和進行」，過去分詞表示「被動和完成」（不及物動詞的過去分詞不表示被動，只表示完成）。分詞可以有自己的狀語、賓語或邏輯主語等。
1、分詞作狀語分詞在句子中作狀語，可以表示時間、條件、原因、結果、讓步、伴隨等。分詞做狀語時，它的邏輯主語與句子的主語一致。作狀語的分詞相當於一個狀語從句。
[例如]
Hearing the news， they all jumped with joy. Using what you know of word stems and word formations， you can make a guess at the meaning of a new word. The students went out of the classroom， laughing and talking. Accompanied by his friend， he went to the railway station.Given better attention， the plants could grow better. He looked tired and depressed， visibly disturbed by the news of his mother『s illness.
分詞在句子中作狀語，使用何種分詞，要取決於分詞與句子主語的關係：主謂關係用現在分詞，動賓或被動關係用過去分詞。
[例如]
Taught by mistakes and setbacks， we have become wiser and handled our affairs better. （we are taught/teach us） .Inspired by the International， the working people of all countries have been fighting for their final liberation. （the working people were inspired/ inspire the working people）____the earth to be flat， many feared that Columbus would fall off the edge.
A）shavingsbelieved B） Believing C） Believed D） Being believed
本句意思為：相信地球是平的，許多人擔心哥倫布會從邊上掉下去。許多人與相信之間是主謂關係，及分詞與主語之間為主謂關係。因此，應用現在分詞，答案為B.
No matter how frequently ____， the works of Beethoven always attract large audiences.
A） performing B） performed C） to be performed D） being performed
本句中貝多芬的作品被反覆表演，可見分詞與句子的主語之間是被動關係，應該用過去分詞，故答案為B.
____as it was at such a time， his work attracted much attention.
A） Being published B） Published C） Publishing D） To be published
本句中as引導的是讓步狀語從句，意思為：他的作品儘管在被這樣的時候出版，還是引起了關注，可見分詞與句子的主語之間是被動關係，應該用過去分詞，故答案為B.
2、「while （ when， once， until， if ， though等連詞）＋分詞」結構現在分詞或過去分詞作狀語時，有時可以在分詞前加while，when， once， although， until， if等連詞。
[例如]
When leaving the airport， she waved again and again to us.While waiting for the train， I had a long talk with my sister about her work……
Once recovered， he threw himselfsintoshis work and made every effort to do it well.
Although working very hard， he failed to pass the final exam.If translated word by word， the passage will be difficult to understand.
3、分詞作定語分詞作定語時，單個的分詞通常放在被修飾的名詞之前，分詞短語一般置於所修飾的中心詞後面。現在分詞修飾的是發出該動作的名詞（即與名詞有主謂關係），過去分詞修飾承受該動作的名詞（即與名詞是動賓關係）。
[例如]
We will go on with our experiment as soon as we get the added fund.
This is really an exhausting day to all of us！
We can see the part of the moon lighted by sunlight.
After a night spent in excitement and sleeplessness， I forced myself to take a long walk along the beach the next day.
More and more developing countries established strategic partnership with developed countries.
The young sitting between my sister and my brother is my cousin Jack……
As early as 1649 Ohio made a decision that free， tax-supported schools must be established in every town ____50 households or more.
A）shavingsB） to have C） to have had D）shavingshad Town
後面由分詞做定語，而且town本身有50或以上人家，故town與分詞間為主謂關係，應該用現在分詞，答案為A.
4、分詞作賓語補足語現在分詞在see， watch， hear， observe， notice， feel， find， glimpse， glance等感官動詞和look at， listen to等短語動詞以及have， keep， get， catch， leave， set， start， send等使役動詞後面與名詞或代詞構成複合賓語，作賓語補語的成分。
5、分詞作表語分詞作表語通常看作形容詞來用。現在分詞表示主語的性質，而且主語多為物；過去分詞表示主語的感受或狀態，主語多為人。