現在分詞一般式所表示的時間關系

時間關系一：與謂語同時

與主要動詞同時發生或同時存在。如：

Be careful when crossing the road. 過馬路要當心。

He got engaged to her when traveling in Europe. 在歐洲旅行時他和她訂了婚。

She tremble a little while doing so. 她這樣做時稍稍顫抖了一下。

While trying to open the door, I cut my hand. 在設法開門時我把手刺破了。

Jim hurt his arm playing tennis (=while he was playing tennis). 吉姆打網球時把手臂扭了。

Reading my newspaper, I heard the door bell ring. 我看報時聽見門鈴響。

She broke her looking glass, dressing to go out. 她在外出前穿衣時把鏡子打破了。

“What have you got here?” the policeman asked approaching him. “你這里是什么東西?”警察走近問道。

時間關系二：在謂語之后

即后于主要動作發生，比如當現在分詞用作結果狀語時，它所表示的動作常發生在主要動作之后。如：

He fired, wounding one of the bandits. 他開了槍，打傷了其中一個匪徒。

I fell, striking my head against the door and cutting it. 我摔了個跟頭，頭撞在了門上，劃了個口子。

The plane lost control, clipping power cables as it fell. 飛機失去控制，落下時撞上了電線。

Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth, causing decay. 細菌附著在牙縫中的食物殘渣上，導致蛀牙。

時間關系三：在謂語之前

即先于主要動作發生，比如當現在分詞用作時間狀語時(尤其是當現在分詞為短暫性動詞時)，表示的動作通常發生在主要動作之前。如：

Arriving at the station, we learned that the train had already gone. 到了車站，我們獲悉火車已開走了。

Learning of the uprising, he returned to the country. 聽到了起義的消息，他回到國內。

Climbing to the top of the tower, we saw a magnificent view. 我們爬到塔頂后，看到了一片壯麗的景象。

若用現在分詞表示先于謂語動詞的動作時會導致誤解，就應用現在分詞的完成式。如：

Having bought our tickets, we went into the theatre. 我們買好票后就走進劇場。

Having read the instructions, he snatched up the fire extinguisher. 看完了說明書之后，他迅速拿起了滅火器。