Complex Sentence PatternsHSK 4
Expressing "except" and "in addition" with 除了… 以外
Use 除了… (以外), 都 to mean "except" or "apart from". The item after 除了 is excluded from a group, and 都 in the main clause emphasizes that everything else is included. 以外 is optional and can be dropped.
Use 除了… (以外), 也/还 to express "in addition to" or "besides". The item after 除了 is included, and 也 or 还 adds something else that is also true. Be careful not to mix this up with the exclusion pattern using 都.
Structure
除了 + Excluded Item (+ 以外), Subj. + 都 + …
emphasizes that all others are included except the one mentioned
除了 + Included Item (+ 以外), Subj. + 也/还 + …
adds an additional item or situation beyond the first
Examples
- 除了他，我们都去过。Chúle tā , wǒmen dōu qù guo.Except for him, we've all been there.
- 除了白酒，别的酒他都喝。Chúle báijiǔ, biéde jiǔ tā dōu hē.He drinks all kinds of alcohol except baijiu.
- 除了周末，老板每天都加班。Chúle zhōumò, lǎobǎn měi tiān dōu jiābān.Except for weekends, the boss works overtime every day.
- 除了价格以外，其他方面我们都很满意。Chúle jiàgé yǐwài , qítā fāngmiàn wǒmen dōu hěn mǎnyì.We're satisfied with all aspects except for the price.
- 除了政治新闻以外，其他新闻我都看。Chúle zhèngzhì xīnwén yǐwài , qítā xīnwén wǒ dōu kàn.I read all types of news except for political news.