Their coming to help was a great encouragement to us. 　　

二、动名词作宾语
1.作动词的宾语 　　
某些动词后出现非限定性动词时只能用动名词作宾语，不能用不定式。常见的此类动词有：
admit, appreciate, excuse, stand, advise, allow, permit, avoid,  consider, enjoy, finish     
They went on walking and never stopped talking.他们继续走，说个不停。 
I found it pleasant walking along the seashore.在海滩上走真是乐事。 　　
Mark often attempts to escape being fined whenever he breaks traffic  regulations. 　　
每当马克违反交通规则时，他常常企图逃避罚款的处分。 　　 
2.作介词的宾语 　　
We are thinking of making a new plan for the next term. 我们正考虑为下学期制定新的计划。 　　
Shall we have a rest or get down to doing our work? 我们休息呢还是开始干活？ 　　
3.作形容词的宾语 　　
The music is well worth listening to more than once.  这种曲子很值得多听几遍。 　　
We are busy preparing for the coming sports meet. 我们正为马上到来的运动会忙着做准备。

三、动名词作表语
动名词作表语时句子主语常是表示无生命的事物的名词或what引导的名词性从句。
表语、动名词与主语通常是对等的关系，表示主语的内容，主语、表语可互换位置。 　　
Your task is cleaning the windows.   你的任务就是擦窗户。
(Cleaning the windows is your task.) 　　
What I hate most is being laughed at.  我最痛恨的就是被别人嘲笑。
(Being laughed at is what I hate most.)

四、动名词作定语
动名词作定语往往表示被修饰词的某种用途。如： 　　
a walking stick ＝a stick for walking=a stick which is used for walking 　　
a washing machine=a machine for washing=a machine which is used for washing 　　 
a reading room=a room for reading=a room which is used for reading 　　
a measuring tape=a tape for measuring=a tape which is used for measuring 　　
sleeping pills=pills for sleeping=pills which is used for sleeping

动名词是非限定动词的一种形式，由动词原形+ing构成。它既有动词的特征，又有名词的特征，故称。
动名词也有时态和语态的变化，如表所示（以及物动词write为例），不及物动词没有语态的变化。

时态、语态	主动	被动
一般式	writing	being  written
完成式 having written		having been written

动名词使用注意事项：
1） 动名词做主语时，谓语动词为单数
2） 在动名词和不定式中，作为介词的宾语是动名词
3） 动名词的否定直接在其前加否定词，通过代词的宾格或所有格形式给出逻辑主语
例：I would appreciate you calling back this afternoon.
4） 有些词后只能接动名词
acknowledge;admit; advise;advocate;allow;appreciate; avoid; celebrate; consider; contemplate; defer; delay; deny;
detest; discontinue; dislike; dispute; enjoy; it entails; escape; excuse; explain; fancy; feel like; finish; forgive; can’t help;
hinder; imagine; it involves; keep; it means; mention; mind; miss; it necessitates; pardon; postpone; practice; prevent;
recall; report; resent; resist; risk; suggest; understand...
5） 另外还有一些接-ing形式的常用说法
it’s no good; it’s no/little/hardly any/ use; it’s not/hardly/scarcely use; it’s worthwhile; spend money/time; there’s no;
there’s no point in; there’s nothing worse than; what’s the use/point
6） 有些词后面加不定式和动名词均可
remember,forget,try,stop,go on,continue,stop,regret,cease,mean后面均可用不定式和-ing形式，但意义截然不容。
例：remember to do/doing：
①I remembered to post the letters.（指未来/过去未来将要做的动作）
②I remembered posting/having posted the letters.（我记得做过这个动作）
 forget与remember的用法类似。
 regret的用法：
①I regret to inform you that…（我很遗憾地通知你……）
②I regretted having left the firm after twenty years.（为了“二十年前的离开”而遗憾。）
 try to（努力）与try +–ing（试验）：
①You really must try to overcome your shyness.
②Try practicing five hours a day.