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.
1He does not know any language ............... Malayalam.
Wrong!
2All the boys have come ............... two.
Wrong!
3All the boys stood up ............... John.
Wrong!
4All the girls have passed the test ............... Maya.
Wrong!
5We have brought all our instruments ............... my guitar.
Wrong!
6He ate everything on his plate ............... the potatoes.
Wrong!
7I have cleaned all the rooms ............... the guestroom.
Wrong!
8Nobody came ............... John and Mary.
Wrong!
9Nobody helped me ............... you.
Wrong!
Done.
Score: 0/9
Answers
- He does not know any language Either could be used here Malayalam.
- All the boys have come Either could be used here two.
- All the boys stood up Either could be used here John.
- All the girls have passed the test Either could be used here Maya.
- We have brought all our instruments Either could be used here my guitar.
- He ate everything on his plate Either could be used here the potatoes.
- I have cleaned all the rooms Either could be used here the guestroom.
- Nobody came Either could be used here John and Mary.
- Nobody helped me except you.
