I smelt something burning.

5、分词作表语
分词作表语通常看作形容词来用。
过去分词表示主语的感受或状态，主语多为人。现在分词表示主语的性质，而且主语多为物；
①过去分词：
We were so bored that we couldn’t help yawning.
She felt confused, and even frightened.
②现在分词：
He was very amusing.
That book was rather boring.
很多动词的现在分词都可以作表语：
exciting, interesting, encouraging, disappointing, confusing, touching, puzzling.