过去分词短语可以表达下列四种意思：

　　㈠方法或活动方式，如：

　　● He walked up and down, lost in thought.

　　● I sat before the desk until after mid-night, absorbed in writing.

　　● Surrounded by a host of fans, the film star left the airport excitedly.

　　㈡原因，如：

　　● Greatly disappointed, some staff decided to leave the place.

　　● Taken by surprise, the enemy surrendered.

　　㈢时间，如：

　　● Born and bred in a turbulent age, the older generation of people experienced all sorts of hardships.

　　● Thrown to the floor, the boy regained his footing a few minutes later.

　　㈣条件，如：

　　● Given more time, the slow learners would have done better.

　　● Criticised by someone else, Tony would not have flared up like that.

　　除了直接修饰动词之外，过去分词或短语也可以和连词合组成短语，表示下列四种意思：

　　⒈由 when, whenever, while, until 等连词引导，表示“ 时间”，如：

　　● When asked about his previous job, Bill said he had been a motor mechanic.

　　● Susan seldom speaks in class until spoken to.

　　⒉由 where, wherever 连词引导，表示“地点”，如：

　　● Mosquitoes should be completely exterminated where found.

　　● Retirees in good health should be invited to return to work wherever needed.

　　⒊由 if, unless 引导，表示“条件”，如：

　　● If kept for too long, some medicines will lose their effectiveness.

　　● We have made a point of not attacking unless attacked.

　　⒋由 though, although, even though 连词引导，表示“让步 ”，如：

　　● Though warned of the danger, they still went mountaineering.

　　● Even though defeated for a second time, our team did not give up hope for the ultimate victory.

　　此外，过去分词短语还可以和介词“with”或“without”连用，具副词作用。如：

　　● With the water pipe choked, there wasn't any more water for use.

　　● Without anything left in the kitchen, the Wangs decided to eat out.

　　最后，过去分词短语，在适当情况下，可以有自己的主语而变成独立结构（the absolute construction），如：

　　● The old man listened, his head inclined to one side.