What is the difference of "except " and except for"
example)
Q1 - They do nothing ____ complain all the time.
except
except for
Either could be used here.
Q3 - He's not very friendly ____ when he wants something.
except
except for
Either could be used here.
2006-12-07 16:44:36 · 7 answers · asked by Iamman 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Q1 They do nothing except complain all the time.
Q3 He's not very friendly except for when he wants something.
The general rule of thumb is as follows:
except + verb
except for + noun or adverbial clause
Since a verb ("complain") follows the blank in Q1, use "except."
Since an adverbial clause ("when he wants something") follows the blank in Q3, use "except for."
2006-12-14 13:23:50 · answer #1 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that except is used for but and except for means to leave out.
Examples: They do nothing but complain all the time.
All of the dogs are for sale except for the tan ones.
2006-12-08 01:03:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I think for Q1 the answer is 'except for', and on Q3 I think is 'exept'.. There's a difference, but I can't explain it
2006-12-08 00:54:32 · answer #3 · answered by ღSakuraღ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Except for' is grammaticaly wrong. It's like the dangling participle commonly used in the midwest ('I'm going to the store. Do you want to come with?' rather than 'Do you want to come?' or 'Do you wnat to come with me?')--a grammatical error repeatedly so frequently and for so long that the error has fallen into accepted usage, though it's still a grammatical error.
2006-12-08 01:11:32 · answer #4 · answered by sdwillie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Q1--but, except
Q3--only, except for
2006-12-08 01:04:12 · answer #5 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'd say...except and either...but get some other answers first.
2006-12-08 00:46:40 · answer #6 · answered by anonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
one is exception(a reason) one is (excused or apart from)
2006-12-08 00:49:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋