Except and except for

Except and except for

Both except and except for can be used after words like all, every, no, everything, anybody, nowhere, whole etc. In other cases, we use except for.

• All the invitees turned up except Shyam. OR All the invitees turned up except for Shyam.

Both except and except for are possible after all.

• Except for Shyam all the invitees turned up. (NOT Except Shyam all the invitees turned up.)

Exercise

Combine the pairs of sentences using except.

1. He knows only Malayalam. He does not know any other language.

2. Two boys have not come. All the others have come.

3. John did not stand up. All the other boys stood up.

4. Maya has not passed the test. All the other girls have passed.

5. We have brought all our instruments. But we haven’t brought my guitar.

6. He ate everything on his plate. But he didn’t eat the potatoes.

7. I have cleaned all the rooms. I haven’t cleaned the guestroom.

8. John and Mary came. Nobody else came.

9. Nobody helped me. You helped me.

ANSWERS

1. He does not know any language except (for) Malayalam.

2. All the boys have come except (for) two.

3. All the boys stood up except (for) John.

4. All the girls have passed the test except (for) Maya.

5. We have brought all our instruments except (for) my guitar.

6. He ate everything on his plate except (for) the potatoes.

7. I have cleaned all the rooms except (for) the guestroom.

8. Nobody came except (for) John and Mary.

9. Nobody helped me except you.

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