英語上根據(jù)動(dòng)詞在句法上是否受到主語的限定,英語動(dòng)詞有可以分為限定動(dòng)詞(Finite Forms of Verbs)和非限定動(dòng)詞(Non-Finite Forms of Verbs).
限定動(dòng)詞又叫謂語動(dòng)詞,在句中充當(dāng)謂語,在人稱和數(shù)上必須和主語保持一致,同時(shí)還表現(xiàn)出時(shí)態(tài)、語態(tài)和語氣的變化.
如：
I play basketball.
He plays basketball.
They played basketball yesterday.
The cars are made in China.
非限定動(dòng)詞,又叫非謂語動(dòng)詞,在句中不能單獨(dú)充當(dāng)謂語（但可以和情態(tài)動(dòng)詞或助動(dòng)詞一起充當(dāng)謂語）,它們不受主語的限定,沒有人稱和數(shù)的變化,具有名詞、形容詞和副詞的特征,在句中可以充當(dāng)主語、賓語、表語、定語、狀語、補(bǔ)足語等.同時(shí)非限定動(dòng)詞也保留了動(dòng)詞的部分特征,有時(shí)態(tài)和語態(tài)的變化,也可以有自己的賓語、表語、狀語等,構(gòu)成非限定動(dòng)詞短語,在邏輯意義上也有其動(dòng)作的執(zhí)行者或承受者,叫非限定動(dòng)詞的邏輯主語(Logical Subjects).
英語非限定動(dòng)詞有三種基本形式：不定式(Infinitives)、動(dòng)名詞（gerund）、分詞（現(xiàn)在分詞Present Participle和過去分詞Past Participle).
1.不定式
(1) Jean aims to go tomorrow.
(2) I was delighted to meet him.
(3) The clothes are easy to wash
2.動(dòng)名詞
（1）Reading is an art.
（2）Swimming is a good sport in summer.
3.現(xiàn)在分詞
（1）I saw the dog digging holes in the yard.
（2）Hearing the news,they immediately set off for Shanghai.
（3）He walked down the hill,singing softly to himself.
（4）If traveling north,you must change at Leeds.
4.過去分詞
（1）developed country; fallen leaves; lost child.
（2） Half of the guests invited to the party were foreigners.
（3）She can’t make herself understood in English.