confusing usages of the word "except"

Question

Here are two use cases of "except" that are confusing to me and found in LONGMAN dictionary.

1. She had nothing to do except spend money. (given for the usage except do something)
2. He wouldn’t talk about work, except to say that he was busy. (given for the usage except to do something)

Are both usages equivalent? Can I paraphrase the first sentence into "She had nothing to do except to spend money."? and also can I paraphrase the second sentence into "He wouldn’t talk about work, except say that he was busy."?

Answer 1

In your first substitution, you add "to":

She had nothing to do except [to] spend money.

The bare infinitive is normally used after "except":
Oxford Guide to English Grammar

a After except and but (= except) we normally use a bare infinitive.
As for the housework, I do everything except cook.

On the other hand, with the added "to", it doesn't sound wrong to me.

However, in the second example, I don't think the "to" can be left out. It's a to-infinitive that starts a purpose clause:

He wouldn't talk about work except to say that he was busy.

That sentence is a way of saying

He talked about work to say that he was busy.

This sounds wrong to me:
*He talked about work say he was busy.

And this also sounds wrong to me:
*He wouldn't talk about work except say he was busy.