Can I say "except" instead of "except for" in this context? If not, what would be the difference between these two phrases?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes! You can use "except" instead of "except for." The meaning does not change. It's understood that "for" is omitted to make the sentence shorter. Ex: Everyone is in the living room except for Jerry. Ex: Everyone's going to the park except Mary. Ex: I invited my entire class except for Dean. He's a jerk. Ex: We all plan to go except Kenzie.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

04/24

1
How can I use “Go-to” in sentence
"Go-to" means something that is commonly chosen over another. "Go-to" can apply to pretty much anything: food, people, places, etc. You can definitely use this with another word! Ex: My go-to food is tacos because they are easy, delicious and versatile. Ex: Her go-to person is her dad. He gives her great advice about life, fixing things, and issues. Ex: His go-to place is the dog park near his house.

2
Would it sound awkward if I say "stay in" instead?
It would, yes! They use "at" since they're talking about Andy's place as a general location. You could use "in" for countries, cities, inside a space, and vehicles. Ex: I'm going to be in Spain for my vacation. Ex: I'll see you at the restaurant! Ex: I didn't see the keys in the car. Ex: Were you at the mall?

3
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4
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5
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