Page 227 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

E x c e p t ( f o r ) , b e s i d e s , a p a r t from a n d b u t f o r
f r o m
Except
(for),
apart
besides,
for
but
and
We use except or except for to introduce the only thing (or things) or person (or people) that the
We use except or except for to introduce the only thing (or things) or person (or people) that the
sentence does not include:
main part of the
main part of the sentence does not include:
few coins in my pocket.
(for) the
• ¢ I had no money to give him except (for) the few coins in my pocket.
I had no money to give him except
(for) lunch.
• ¢ The price of the holiday includes all meals except (for) lunch.
The price of the holiday includes all meals except
seemed to have been invited except (for) Mrs Woodford and me.
• ¢ Everyone seemed to have been invited except (for) Mrs Woodford and me.
Everyone
use except for rather than except to show that a general statement made in the
However, we
However, we use except for rather than except to show that a general statement made in the
is
not completely true:
sentence
main part of the
main part of the sentence is not completely true:
The car was undamaged in the accident, except for a broken headlight.
2 • ¢ The car was undamaged in the accident, except for a broken headlight.
room was completely dark except for light coming under the door.
• ¢ The room was completely dark except for light coming under the door.
The
• ¢ Except for the weather, the holiday couldn't have been better.
Except for the weather, the holiday couldn't have been better.
use except, not except for, before prepositions, to-infinitives, bare infinitives, and that-
We use except, not except for, before prepositions, to-infinitives, bare infinitives, and that-
We
(although the word that may be left out (see Unit 70)):
clauses (although the word that may be left out (see Unit 70)):
clauses
be rain everywhere today except in
• ¢ There is likely
There is likely to to be rain everywhere today except in
Scotland.
Scotland.
I rarely need to go into the city centre except to do
• ¢ I rarely need to go into the city centre except to do v>
some shopping.
some shopping.
except keep
There is nothing more the doctor can do
• ¢ There is nothing more the doctor can do except keep
an eye on him.
an eye on him.
(that) they
They look just like the real thing, except
• ¢ They look just like the real thing, except (that) they
are made of plastic.
are made of plastic.
(for) and besides in these sentences:
Compare except
Compare except (for) and besides in these sentences:
I • ¢ I don't enjoy watching any sports except (for) cricket. (= I enjoy only cricket)
I don't enjoy watching any sports except (for) cricket. (= I enjoy only cricket)
@ • + Besides cricket, I enjoy watching football and basketball. (= I enjoy three sports)
Besides cricket, I enjoy watching football and basketball. (= I enjoy three sports)
one of her short stories.
by her, except
(for)
J haven't read anything written
• ¢ I haven't read anything written by her, except (for) one of her short stories.
Besides her novels and poems, she published a number of short stories.
• ¢ Besides her novels and poems, she published a number of short stories.
use except (for) to mean 'with the exception of, but we use besides to mean 'as well as' or
We use except (for) to mean 'with the exception of, but we use besides to mean 'as well as' or
We
addition to'.
'in addition to’.
‘in
use apart from instead of except (for) and besides:
We can
We can use apart from instead of except (for) and besides:
(= except for)
I don't enjoy watching any sports apart from cricket. (= except for)
• ¢ I don't enjoy watching any sports apart from cricket.
Apart from cricket, I enjoy watching football and basketball. (= besides; as well as)
• ¢ Apart from cricket, I enjoy watching football and basketball. (= besides; as well as)
use but with a similar meaning to except (for), particularly after negative words such as
We can
We can use but with a similar meaning to except (for), particularly after negative words such as
no, nobody, and nothing:
no, nobody, and nothing:
after the operation he could see nothing but / except (for) / apart from vague
• ¢ • ¢ for has a different meaning from except for. When we use but for we introduce a negative
Immediately after the operation he could see nothing but / except (for) / apart from vague
Immediately
However, some people use except for in the same way as but for, particularly in spoken English.
shadows.
shadows.
apart from upwards, towards the
light.
There was no way out but / except / apart from upwards, towards the light.
There was no way out but / except /
But for has a different meaning from except for. When we use but for we introduce a negative
But
saying what
had
if other
things
happened
not
might have
happened:
idea, saying what might have happened if other things had not happened:
idea,
(= if it hadn't
The country would now be self-sufficient in food but for the drought last year.
The country would now be self-sufficient in food but for the drought last year. (= if it hadn't
• ¢
for the drought...)
been
been for the drought...)
been picked for the national team by now.
for his broken leg he would probably have
• ¢
But
But for his broken leg he would probably have been picked for the national team by now.
if it hadn't been for his broken leg...)
(= (= if it hadn't been for his broken leg...)
some people
use except
for in the same way as but for, particularly in spoken English.
However,
formal writing
for to
except
and
idea
it
use but
for to
introduce
to
is
a negative
better
In In formal writing it is better to use but for to introduce a negative idea and except for to
exception.
an
introduce an exception.
introduce