Expression : ' She does nothing other than read her books.'

[Tom]

Hi

I think I have asked this question before. :roll:

Is other than a preposition? If yes, then why is the following sentence correct?

[Haihao]

An interesting question, Tom.

It seems to me the 'other than' in your first example might act like an adverb or a conjunction: 'She does nothing other than she reads her books.' whereas a preposition in the second: 'She does nothing other than reading her books.'

Sorry for the intruding. :)

Haihao

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

In sentences such as 'She doesn't do anything other than...', you will probably see people using a number of different structures: the bare infinitive, the to-infinitive and the gerund.

I see 'other than' as a conjunction in your first sentence, and the meaning is similar to 'except' or 'but'.

Saying 'She does nothing' is equivalent to saying 'She doesn't do anything', so in your sentence 'other than' would join the implied 'do' with the word 'read'.

Compare your first sentence to these:
- She could do nothing but laugh.
- The only thing she could do was laugh.
- He is unable to do anything except disagree with everyone else.
- She does practically nothing, but she does read her books.

That's my take.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Tom]

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I prefer the first sentence, but wouldn't argue with the second. I don't like the gerund in that sentence.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln