Dear teacher.
Q. What is the difference between "except" and "except for" ?
Some say they are almost same meaning, but as far as I concerned there is a little different meanig between them.
please let me know.
I'd appreciate your answer.
except and except for
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except and except for
T H Cha
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Yes, they are very similar, but differ in that 'except for' normally introduces an independent adverbial (usually standing at the beginning of a sentence), while 'except' normally introduces an adjectival modifier to an indefinite pronoun (and therefore cannot stand at the beginning of a sentence). Thus we would say,
Except for his drinking, he's a good person.
but
I would do anything except that.
Except for his drinking, he's a good person.
but
I would do anything except that.