Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Linh]

In our English test, there's this question:

Rewrite the following sentence as directed. Do not change its meaning.

All she does is sit in the office drinking coffee.
--> She does nothing...............................................

Here are our different answers:
-She does nothing but sit in the office drinking coffee.
-She does nothing except for sitting in the office drinking coffee.

Please tell me which answer is better. I guess the first one is. But is the second one accepted?

Thank you in advance.

[buddhaheart]

The 1st ans. is correct.

�Except for" is idiomatic taking on the meaning of �if it were not for�. For example, you might say, �I would�ve gone on my own except for lack of money.�

[Linh]

Thank you!