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
Fill in the blanks with except or except for.
1. He does not know any language ..................................... Malayalam.
Correct!
Wrong!
2. All the boys have come ................................... two.
Correct!
Wrong!
3. All the boys stood up ................................. John.
Correct!
Wrong!
4. All the girls have passed the test ........................................ Maya.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. We have brought all our instruments .......................................... my guitar.
Correct!
Wrong!
6. He ate everything on his plate ................................... the potatoes.
Correct!
Wrong!
7. I have cleaned all the rooms ....................................... the guestroom.
Correct!
Wrong!
8. Nobody came ....................................... John and Mary.
Correct!
Wrong!
9. Nobody helped me .................................. you.
Correct!
Wrong!
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.
