To Except vs Excepting Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To except (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to except" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I need to except certain cases from the general rule.

Excepting (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "excepting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Excepting a few, all the participants arrived on time.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To except (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To except is an important step in the process.

  To except is an important step in the process.

  • "*To except*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to except him from the list.

  She wants me to except him from the list.

  • "Me *to except* him from the list" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to except* him from the list).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I have a reason to except her case.

  I have a reason to except her case.

  • "*To except* her case" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a reason *to except* her case).

Excepting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Excepting is a common practice in this industry.

  Excepting is a common practice in this industry.

  • "*Excepting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in this industry).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy excepting them from the group activities.

  I enjoy excepting them from the group activities.

  • "*Excepting* them from the group activities" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*excepting* them from the group activities).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has no problem with excepting certain individuals.

  She has no problem with excepting certain individuals.

  • "With *excepting* certain individuals" is the object of the preposition "with."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (no problem with *excepting* certain individuals).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• demand
• wish

Example

He decided to except that clause from the contract.

They attempted to except themselves from the new policy.

She refused to except any compromises in the negotiations.

We demand to except our rights in this matter.

They wish to except certain conditions in the agreement.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• mind
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys excepting the difficult tasks from his workload.

They recommend excepting weekends from the working schedule.

I don't mind excepting a few exceptions in this case.

She avoids excepting any mistakes in her work.

Can you imagine excepting yourself from this responsibility?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to except specific situations from the policy. They like excepting specific situations from the policy.

We started to except certain individuals from the program. We started excepting certain individuals from the program.

He began to except some items from the inventory. He began excepting some items from the inventory.