except for

IPA/ɛksˈɛpt fɔː/
IPA/ɛksˈɛpt fɔːɹ/

except for — phrasal verb

  • except forbase form
  • excepts for3rd person singular
  • excepting for-ing form
  • excepted forpast simple

1. used to indicate the only person, thing, or situation that is left out of a gene

1.片語動詞B1
釋義

used to indicate the only person, thing, or situation that is left out of a general statement you are making.

例句

The whole Watanabe family attended the reunion, except for Yuki who was travelling abroad.

except for + noun phrase marking the excluded item

Every seat on the bus was taken except for one near the back door.

同義詞
  • apart from

    neutral alternative; also used to mean 'in addition to' in British English

  • other than

    more informal; common in spoken English

  • excluding

    more formal; frequently used in written rules or price lists

反義詞
  • including

    opposite function — adds the item rather than removing it

文法句型

except for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently paired with quantifiers like 'all', 'every', 'no', 'any', or 'whole' to frame the general group before naming the exception. The phrase 'except for' usually introduces a noun phrase; when followed by a verb, use 'except that' or 'except when' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I like all fruits except for banana.
✅I like all fruits except for bananas.
💡'except for' must be followed by a noun phrase; use plural or determiner as needed.
❌Except for raining, we had a good day.
✅Except for the rain, we had a good day.
💡use a noun phrase after 'except for', not a verb form.

2. used to explain that something would not have happened or been possible if a par

2.片語動詞B2
釋義

used to explain that something would not have happened or been possible if a particular person or thing had not existed or acted in a certain way.

例句

The garden would have been perfect except for the dead tree that was still there.

hypothetical: would have + except for + noun phrase

Asher would have arrived on time except for the massive traffic jam on the highway.

同義詞
  • if it were not for

    full conditional form; same meaning but more explicit and slightly more formal

  • but for

    formal and literary; common in legal and academic writing

文法句型

except for + noun phrase (hypothetical)

用法筆記

This sense always implies a counterfactual situation — the main clause describes what would or could have happened, and 'except for' gives the obstacle that prevented it. The verb in the main clause is usually 'would have' + past participle. Distinguish from sense 1: here 'except for' does NOT mean 'but not including'; it means 'if it were not for'.

常見錯誤

❌Except for the rain, the picnic was cancelled.' (unclear cause-effect).
✅The picnic would have been held except for the rain.
💡use a hypothetical main clause (would have + past participle) to show the prevented outcome.