有一读者问：有这样一句话：
(1)He shared most of her ideas, except that his were angrier, more radical.
我知道 except that 意谓“除……外”，但在这里似乎讲不通，不知其意为何？
except 在此是一介词，与 that 构成一短语连词，用以引导一个从句，常用在口语中，that 常可省去。except (that)的确常意指“除……之外”，如：
(2)She knew nothing except that he was there. （可译作“她只知道……”）
(3)I can scarcely remember what we ate, except that it was plentiful and simple.
但 except （that)也可意指 only （只是），上述句（1）中的except that 即具有此意，另如：
(4)The two brothers look exactly the same except that one has a birth mark on his left arm.
(5)Your essay is good, except it's too long. （except 在此可译为“只可惜”）
此外，except (that)还可意指“除非”，如：
(6)Except （that） when everyone is standing on tiptoes, no one can see any better. （这里的 that 常省去）
(7)He won't go except I tell him to.
有时，except (that)则意谓“但是”，如：
(8)It couldn't have happened except that it did.
(9)It even felt like apologizing to them except that they wouldn't know what I was talking about.
except (that)还常与含有虚拟语气的主句连用，如：
(10)I would go, except it's too far.
另外，还值得提一下，except 除可后接 that 从句外，还可后接由 what, when, where 等引导的从句，实例如（其后接 when 从句的例证见上述句[6]）：
(11)You've done everything except what I asked you.
(12)These rules apply except where one of the following additional changes applies...
