1）一般式表示與主語動詞同時發生。例如：

Hearing the news， he jumped with joy. 聽到這一消息，他高興得手舞足蹈。

Arriving there， they found the boy dead.一到那兒，他們就發現那男孩死了。

典型例題

The secretary worked late into the night， ___a long speech for the president.

A. to prepare B. preparing C. prepared D. was preparing

答案B. 此處沒有連詞，不能選D，否則出現了兩個謂語動詞worked和was preparing. 只能在B，C中選一個。又因前后兩個動作同時發生，且與主語為主動關系，應用現在分詞。

2）完成時表示先于主語動詞發生。例如：

While walking in the garden，he hurt his leg. 在花園里散步時他傷了腿。

分詞作時間狀語，如果先與主動詞的動作，且強調先后， 要用having done.

Having finished his homework， he went out. 做完作業后，他出去了。

=As he had finished his homework， he went out.

典型例題

___ a reply， he decided to write again.

A. Not receivingB. Receiving not C. Not having received D. Having not received

答案C. 本題考查分詞的時態與分詞的否定式。根據題意判斷，分詞的動作（接信）發生在謂語動詞的動作（決心再寫信）之前，因此用分詞的完成式。分詞的否定式的構成為not +分詞，故選C.該句可理解為：Because he had not received a reply， he decided to write again.