现在分词作状语有主动的意思，过去分词有被动的意思。分词作状语多用在书面语中，口语中多用状语从句。

1． 分词可在句中作时间、原因、条件、让步、结果、方式或伴随情况等状语，如：
　　Hearing the news (=When we heard the news), we jumped with joy.（时间）
　　Heated (= When it was heated), the metal expands.（时间）
　　Not knowing (= Because he didn't know) how to do it, he went to his father for help.（原因）
　　Divorced(= Because he was divorced)from life, he couldn't write any good novels.（原因）
　　Looking(= If you look) out of the window, you can have a full view of the beach.（条件）
　　Given(= If we are given) more time, we can do it better.（条件）
　　Working or playing(= Whether she is working or playing), Mary is always intense.（让步）
　　Considered (= Although it is considered) as a building material, wood is not very strong.（让步）
　　The car was held up by the snowstorm, thus causing the delay.（结果）　
　　The glass fell to the ground, broken to pieces.（结果）
　　The children rushed out, shouting and jumping.（方式和伴随）
　　All of us returned home exhausted.（伴随）

2. When/While etc. + V-ing/V-ed（when/while等加现在和过去分词）作状语时，前面往
　往带有when, while, before, after, since, if, as if, (al)though, unless, as等连词，使分词
　表示的意义更加明确，这实际上是一个省略了"主语 + be的人称变化形式"的句子，
　省略的主语和主句的主语一致，如：
　　While reading(= While I was reading) his composition, I noticed some mistakes.
　　If/When (If/When it is) heated, water changes into steam.