【问】 (1)He does everything in the house except put the children to bed. (CGEL)

(2) It had no effect except to make him angry.(Evans)

在句(1)中except后接动词原形，而在第二句中except后接带to的不定式。这是为什么呢?

【答】 如果介词except之前含有动词do(包括do的各种语法形式)，则except后可以接动词原形;如果介词except之前是其他动词，则except后应接带to的动词不定式(to-V)：

1.The windows were never opened except to air the room for a few minutes in the morn-ing. (Maugham)

这些窗户除了早晨通风几分钟外其他时间都不开。

2. He doesn't want to do anything except help me. (Dreiser)

除了帮助我，任何事情他都不想做。

3. She can do everything except cook. (LDCE)

除了烹调之外，她什么事都能干。

4. There was little I could do except wait. (EED)

除了等待，我几乎什么事也不能做。

5. He could do little except write.

除了写，他几乎什么都不能干。

(参见to²，but)