【问】 I’d have come with you but that I am so busy. (ALD)

请问but that的词性及其含义。

【答】 but that如同except that，in that一样，应看成是复杂的从属连词(complex subordina-tor)，而不要看成是介词+that的结构。此种用法的but that通常可以译为：“要不是”(=ex-cept that)。

1. The old woman would have been drowned but that a passer-by dragged her out of thewater.

要不是一位过路人把这位老太太从水里拉上来，她就淹死了。

2. He would have helped us but that he was short of money at the time. (ALD)

要不是他当时没有钱，他就帮助我们了。

请注意，but that从句本身所描述的情景是真实的，因而应当用陈述语气，但是，由于but that在语义上表示“假如它所描述的真实情景不存在的话”，因此主句常常提出与事实相反的情景，所以主句大都用虚拟语气。

1. He would have left but that he____afraid.

A. is B. was C. has been D. had

2. But that he____it himself，he could not have believed.

A. saw B. had not seen C. didn’t see D. has seen