(1) 这些短语都可表示“不是……;正是;原来是”。
- The new arrival was no other/none other than the President.
新来的那人正是总统本人。 - He is no less a person than her husband. (=He is a person no other than her husband.)
他正是她丈夫。
(2) no other but 是古体,现在一般不用。no other than 还可以接动词或副词,但表示的意思与上述不同。
- I can do no other than (=I can not but) smile.
我不由得笑了。 - There in no real sound academic reason for their being here (in the university) other than to be utilized to produce income.
他们在这里(大学里),除了被用来创收之外,没有任何真正正当的学术上的理由。 - I have no time to read the book other than cursorily.
我的时间只允许我草草地读这本书。
(3) who/what...but意为“不是别人,正是……;不是别的,原来是……”。
- And when I got out of the lift whom should I see but my old friend Jim.
当我从电梯里出来时,我看见的不是别人,正是我的老朋友吉姆。 - One cold, wretched night, when I was so tired I could hardly keep myself awake, who should come in but my old friend.
在一个寒冷的、天气恶劣的夜晚,在我疲倦得睁不开眼时,进来的不是别人,正是我的老朋友。 - I felt something crawling on my leg. And what should I find but an enormous spider!
我感觉到什么东西在我腿上爬,我发现不是别的,原来是一只大蜘蛛!