- Take the next turning but one on your left. (ALD) 请在你左方的第二个转弯处转弯。
but do/but doing
下面是《大学英语·精读》第一册的课后练习题：
With language, we can do all the following but ____
A. producing good health. B. communicating to other people.
C. passing ideas from group to group. D. turning experiences into symbols.
下面是《大学英语》1997年第8期(p.7)对上面的试题提出的否定意见：
“此题 but 后的四个选择项全部用了动名词短语；这可能是因为编者认为只要是介词，其后的动词就要用其动名词形式。殊不知，偏偏有个例外：
‘Prepositions can also be followed by verbs but, except after but and except, the verb must be in the gerund form;
The only exceptions to the gerund rule are except and but (preposition), which take the bare infinitive.
这就是说介词中只有 except 和 but 后接的是没有 to 的动词不定式, 而不是像其它介词那样接动名词。
I've done everything you wanted except (or but) make the beds.
所以，上列四个选择的动名词都须改为没有 to 的不定式。”
我的问题是: but 之后绝不可接动名词, 而只能接不带 to 的动词不定式吗?
由于 but 究竟是连词还是介词,常常难以断定,所以其后既可以接动词不定式,也可以接动名词。CGEL 书中的例句可以证明这一点:
He does everything in the house the children to bed. (CGEL, § 9.58)
除了安排孩子们上床睡觉之外，他在家里什么事都干。
[附注]but接动名词的结构用得较少。