【问】 I’d lend you my car except(that) I may need it later this afternoon.这里的except (that)

是什么意思?我在《远东英汉大辞典》和ALD中都没有查到它的含义。

【答】 这里的except(that)是连词，相当于连词 only，可译为“要不是”、“只不过”、“但是”。上面的句子可译为：

我本来是想把我的汽车借给你的，只是我今天下午晚些时候可能要用它。

类例：

1. I would go except it’s too late. (NELD)

要不是太晚的话，我会去的。

2. I would have had a perfect score except I missed the last question. (ECD)

要不是漏掉了最后一道题，我会得满分的。

3. I would buy a new suit except I have no money. (ECD)

我想买一套新衣服，只是没钱。

试比较：

1. I would've asked you，only my mother told me not to. (CGEL)

要不是我妈妈告诉我不要去问你，我本来会问你的。

2. I would have gone，only you objected. (ECD)

要不是你反对，我早就去了。

请做下面的英语试题：

“Why didn't Mary go?” “She____except she didn't have time. ”

A. would have gone B. will go C. would go D. be going (TOEFL，71.5)