分词通常在两类动词后作补语(主补、宾补):感觉、感官动词(see, observe, notice, watch, hear, smell, listen to, feel, find等)和使役、致使动词(catch, set, have, make, get, start, leave, keep等)。这种用法中的现在分词表示正在进行的主动意义,过去分词则表示已经完成的被动意义。如:The joke set them all laughing.(这个笑话让他们都笑了。)She saw the thief caught by policemen.(她看见那个小偷被警察抓住了。)如果分词作宾补的句子变为被动语态,那么分词就在新句中作主补。如:We were kept waiting for a long time.(让我们等了很久。)The big fire is reported controlled.(据报道这场大火已经得到控制。)