动名词和现在分词都称作动状词（Verbal）,即由动词变化而来,仍然具有动词的性质与原义,但不能作动词使用的词.
动名词与现在分词的区别主要是：
1.如果－ing形式在句中作表语,那么它可能是现在分词,也可能是动名词.区别方法是：
动名词作定语时,说明被修饰的名词的用途（可以用"use for +动名词"这个结构代替）,它和所修饰的名词在逻辑上没有主谓关系；现在分词作定语时,表示它所修饰的名词的行为,和它所修饰的名词在逻辑上有主谓关系（可以扩展为定语从句）.
E.g.:a sleeping car=a car used for sleeping 一节卧车车厢 （sleeping此处为动名词）
a sleeping child=a child who is sleeping 一个睡着的孩子 （sleeping此处为现在分词）
2.动名词具有名词的性质：
可以和名次一样有冠词或this、some等形容词； E.g.:A knocking at the door was heard可以和名次一样有所有格、复数形式；
E.g.:He enjoys reading for reading’s sake,not for scholarship.
He is so busy that I can’t keep track of all his comings and goings.
可以带有所有格已表明动作者.E.g.:Please excuse my coming late.
3.如果－ing形式在句中作表语,那么它可能是现在分词,也可能是动名词.区别方法是：如果ing形式相当于一个名词,可以与主语交换位置,它就是动名词.如果－ing形式相当于形容词,不能与主语交换位置,它就是现在分词.
4.“动名词+名词”和“现在分词+名词”的读音不同,前者的重音在“动名词”上（a ‘sleeping suit）,而后者的重音在“名词”上（a sleeping ‘child）.
5.动名词用法的特殊情况
① No+动名词——用于简短的禁令或禁律 E.g.:No smoking.
② There is no+-ing（…是不可能的）= It is impossible to = No one can (or We cannot )
E.g.:There is no telling when lasting peace will come.(谁也不知道永久的和平何时到来)
③ Never (or not) … without + -ing （每次…都…）= whenever
E.g.:He never comes without bringing some present.
④ It goes without saying that （…是不用说的）= It is needless to say that
E.g.:It goes without saying that no animal can live without breathing.
⑤ Do+动名词（做需要若干时间或一再重复的事情）——动名词之前都由the、所有格或some/a little/ much/ a lot of 之类的形容词.
E.g.:Do you do much fishing?
⑥ On (or upon) +-ing （当…,一…就…）=when (or as soon as) +S.+ V.
⑦ Of one’s own = -ing （自己…的）=-ed by oneself
E.g.:He showed me a picture of his own painting.
⑧ Make a point of –ing （必定,重视）= make it a point to
E.g.:He makes a point of calling on me on New Year’s Day.
⑨ Be on (or upon) the point of –ing （正要）= be just about to
6.如果－ing形式在句中充当状语和补语,那么它一定是现在分词.
如果－ing形式在句中充当主语、宾语、同位语,那么它一定是动名词.