有这样一道题,是考查except用法的:
A:Does he often come to see you?
B:No,the never comes ________ he is in trouble.
A. except B. except that C. except when D. except for
此题很容易误选B,因为后面是一个从句,所以很容易联想到except that,其实此题应选C。B,C 两者之后均接从句,其区别主要从句意上看:except when中的when有“当……时”之意,而except that则无此义。比较:
I know nothing about him except that he lives in Paris. 我除知道他住在巴黎外,其他情况一无所知。
I like her except when she’s angry. 除了她发怒的时候,我还是挺喜欢她的。
except作为介词,后接名词或代词(这是基本用法),除了以上提到的后接that从句和when从句外,以下用法也需注意:
(1) 副词:She has never come late except recently. 除了最近一段时间,她从未迟到。
(2) 介词短语:The window is never opened except in summer. 除了在夏天外,这扇窗户从不打开。
(3) 不定式(注意是否带 to):It had no effect except to make him angry. 除了惹他生气外,没产生任何效果。
There was little we could do except wait. 除了等待我们没有什么办法。
(4) what从句:I know nothing about it except what he told me. 除他告诉我的情况外,我对此事一无所知。
(5) where从句:My papers seem to be everywhere except where they ought to be. 我的文件似乎完全不在它们应该放置的地方。