進階 · Unit 17
動名詞 — 意義上的主詞
當實際做出動名詞(-ing)這個行為的人和句子的主詞不同時，就把那個主體以所有格或受格放在動名詞前面，用來表示「意義上的主詞」。正式文體常用所有格，會話體常用受格。
概念說明
當實際做出動名詞(-ing)這個行為的人和句子的主詞不同時，就把那個主體以所有格或受格放在動名詞前面，用來表示「意義上的主詞」。正式文體常用所有格，會話體常用受格。
A. 所有格 + 動名詞 — 正式、書面語
把動名詞的主體用 my·your·his·her·our·their 這類所有格放在動名詞前面，是傳統的正式文體用法。所有格 + 動名詞 被視為原則上的形態而通用。
| 主體 | 所有格 | 例子 |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | my | I appreciate my being here. |
| 你 | your | We appreciate your coming. |
| 他 | his | I don't mind his leaving. |
| 她 | her | I understand her worrying. |
| 我們 | our | They objected to our staying. |
| 他們 | their | We disliked their arguing. |
- I appreciate your helping me with this project. (感謝你在這個專案上的幫忙。)
- She was upset about his forgetting her birthday. (她為了他忘記自己的生日而難過。)
- We insisted on their attending the ceremony. (我們堅持他們必須出席那場典禮。)
B. 受格 + 動名詞 — 會話、口語
在會話中會用 me·you·him·her·us·them 這類受格代替所有格放在動名詞前面，表達起來更自然。當主體是名詞時，會話中不加 -'s 而直接用受格形態的情況更自然。
| 主體 | 受格 | 例子 |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | me | Do you mind me sitting here? |
| 你 | you | I remember you saying that. |
| 他 | him | I don't like him being late. |
| 她 | her | We heard her singing. |
| 我們 | us | They complained about us talking. |
| 他們 | them | I saw them leaving early. |
- Do you mind me borrowing your pen? (我可以借你的筆嗎？)
- I don't like him driving so fast. (我不喜歡他開車開那麼快。)
- We heard about Kevin winning the contest. (我們聽說了 Kevin 在比賽中獲勝的事。)
- She insisted on me paying for the meal. (她堅持要由我來付這頓飯的錢。)
C. 位置與正式、非正式的選擇
句首的主詞位置原則上用所有格，而在動詞·介系詞後面的受詞位置，會話中用受格自然得多。
| 位置 | 正式文體 (所有格) | 會話體 (受格) |
|---|---|---|
| 句子的主詞位置 | His arriving late upset us. | (主詞位置用所有格才自然) |
| 動詞後面的受詞 | I don't mind his coming. | I don't mind him coming. |
| 介系詞後面 | We insisted on her paying. | We insisted on her paying. |
- His being late again annoyed everyone. (他又遲到這件事讓大家都很不高興。)
- I don't mind him being late once in a while. (他偶爾遲到我是不介意的。)
- We appreciate your patience with us. (感謝你們對我們的耐心。)
- The teacher objected to students using phones in class. (老師反對學生在課堂上使用手機。)
重點整理
- 1當動名詞的主體和句子的主詞不同時，就要把那個主體以所有格或受格標示在動名詞前面。(例: I don't mind his coming late.)
- 2所有格(my·your·his...)比較適合正式文體與書面語，受格(me·you·him...)在會話體中比較自然。(例: 會話 him being / 正式 his being)
- 3句首的主詞位置用所有格才自然，而在動詞·介系詞後面，會話中比較常見受格。(例: His being late upset us.)
- 4當主體是專有名詞或普通名詞時，不加 -'s 直接放著在會話中比較自然。(例: I heard about Kevin winning the contest.)
- 5mind·appreciate·insist on·object to·complain about·remember·regret 後面很常出現「意義上的主詞 + 動名詞」這種結構。(例: Do you mind me borrowing your pen?)
例句
I don't mind his being late sometimes.
他偶爾遲到我不介意。
She insisted on my paying for dinner.
她堅持要由我來付晚餐的錢。
We appreciate your helping us today.
我們很感謝你今天幫了我們。
I don't like him smoking in the house.
我不喜歡他在屋子裡抽菸。
Do you mind me sitting here?
我坐在這裡你介意嗎？
這個單元還有更多例句。註冊後可以看完整內容並聆聽發音。
容易犯的錯誤
I don't mind him coming late.
She insisted on my paying for dinner.
We appreciate your helping us.
His arriving late upset everyone.
Do you mind me sitting here?