通常认为分词是说明它前面的名词或代词：

Tom，horrified at what he had done，could at first say nothing．

汤姆被自己所做的事吓坏了，一开始都说不出话来了。

Romeo，believing that Juliet was dead，decided to kill himself．

罗密欧相信朱丽叶已死，就决定自杀。

A man carrying a large parcel got out of the bus．

一个拿着一大包东西的男人下了公共汽车。

但要注意分词也可被主要动词把它跟所说明的名词或代词隔开：

Jones and Smith came in，followed by their wives．

琼斯和史密斯进来了，他们的妻子跟在后边。

She rushed past the policeman，hoping he wouldn’t ask what she had inher suitcase．

她赶紧从警察身边走过去，希望他不会问起手提箱里有什么。

如果在分词前面没有名词或代词，则认为分词是说明后面主要动词的主语的：

Stunned¹ by the blow，Peter fell heavily．

彼得被这一击打昏了，重重地倒了下去。（彼得被击晕了。）

Believing that he is alone，the villain² expresses his thoughts aloud．

那恶棍相信他身边没别人了，出声说出了自己的想法。

如果不遵守上述法则，就会造成混乱。 Waiting for a bus abrick fell on my head的意思似乎是说砖头在等候公共汽车，那岂非笑话。分词与名词或代词被这样错误地连接时就叫做误连分词。上述句子应改写成：

As I was waiting for a bus a brick fell on my head．

在我等公共汽车时一块砖头落到了我的头上。

下面再举几个误连分词的例子：

（误）When using this machine it must be remembered…

（正）When using this machine you must remember…

使用这台机器时（你）必须记住……

（误）Believing that I was the only person who knew about this beach，thesight of someone else on it annoyed me very much．

（正）As I believed I was the only person/Believing that I was the only per-son on the beach，I was annoyed by the sight of someone else．

因我自以为是唯一一个在这海滩上的人，看到有别人在这里时所以心里很不高兴。