1）作主语。例如：
Fighting broke out between the South and the North. 南方与北方开战了。
2）作宾语
a. 有些动词可以用动名词作宾语。例如：
admit 承认 appreciate 感激 avoid 避免 complete完成 consider认为 delay 耽误 deny 否认 detest 讨厌 endure 忍受 enjoy 喜欢 escape 逃脱 fancy 想象 finish 完成 imagine 想象 mind 介意 miss 想念 postpone推迟 practice 训练 recall 回忆 resent 讨厌 resume 继续 resist 抵抗 risk 冒险 suggest 建议 face 面对 include 包括 stand 忍受 understand 理解 forgive 宽恕 keep 继续例如：Would you mind turning down your radio a little， please？ 你把收音机音量调小一点，好吗
The squirrel was lucky that it just missed being caught. 这松鼠幸运得很，刚逃避了被逮住的厄运。
b. 有些结构后面可以用动名词作宾语或其他成分。例如：
admit to preferto be used to lead to devote oneself to object to stick to no good no use be fond of look forward to be proud of be busy cant help be tired of be capable of be afraid of think of burst out keep on insist on count on set about put off be good at take up give up be successful in3）作表语，对主语说明、解释。例如：
Her job is washing， cleaning and taking care of the children. 她的工作是洗刷、清扫和照顾孩子。
比较：She is washing， cleaning and taking care of the children.
4）作定语，一般表示所修饰名词事物的用途。例如：
a writing desk=a desk for writing 写字台
a swimming pool=a pool swimming 游泳池
有些动名词作定语，与所修饰的名词关系比较复杂。例如：
boiling point=a temperature point at which something begins to boil 沸点
a walking tractor=a tractor which a driver can operate while he or she is walking behind it 手扶拖拉机