Everyone Except: Simple Exceptions

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Everyone Except: Simple Exceptions

In this lesson, you can say which person or item is the exception.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Say that everyone can come, but Eva cannot.

See one possible response

Everyone except Eva can come.

You coordinate a small group’s availability and the materials they can use.

What you will practise
  • Say which person or item is the exception.
  • Use a name, thing or object word after except.
  • Understand an exception with apart from.

Answer first. Then check one model. Keep the meaning and the target pattern.

Name an exception

Except + noun or pronoun removes an item from the group under discussion: Everyone except Jo is here. In this lesson, the situation tells you exactly who is included and who is not. Keep except close to the group it limits.

All the rooms except the kitchen are ready.

Everyone except me has a ticket.

Only the first three adults are physically together, greeting one another beside one vacant chair. The man holds a phone showing Jo alone in a plain armchair at home, as a small clear video-call image without UI lettering. Convey Jo being absent from this gathering, not excluded socially.
Everyone except Jo is here; Jo is still at home.The supplied context identifies the excluded person.

Use a phrase after except

A person, thing or short noun phrase can follow except: except the last page; except these two. Use the object pronoun me in the neutral pattern Everyone except me. Do not add a second unnecessary no before the exception.

I like all these colours except the grey one.

The shop is open every day except Sunday.

Apart from in an exception context

Apart from can also introduce an exception: Apart from the kitchen, all the rooms are ready. It can have an additional meaning in other contexts, so do not assume it always excludes. Here the facts make the excluded item clear.

Apart from Jo, everyone is here; Jo is still at home.

All the pages are clear apart from the last one.

Only the same three adults are physically present, with the vacant chair and a small phone view of Jo in her home armchair remaining visible. They naturally confirm who is here; preserve the same exception, no extra crowd or implication of rejection.
Apart from Jo, everyone is here.In this context, apart from introduces the same exception.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. Everyone except ___ is ready. Use I.

Compare a model and explanation

me

The neutral object form follows except here.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. All six cups are clean except the red cup, which is dirty. Use one concise sentence.

Compare a model and explanation

All the cups except the red one are clean.

The dirty cup is excluded from the clean set.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. The office is open every day except Friday. Is Friday an open day in this stated schedule?

Compare a model and explanation

No.

Friday is the specified exception.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. Everyone except not Sara is here. Sara is absent.

Compare a model and explanation

Everyone except Sara is here.

Except already introduces the excluded person.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. All the rooms are ready apart from the kitchen. Start Apart from.

Compare a model and explanation

Apart from the kitchen, all the rooms are ready.

The exception remains the kitchen.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. All these pens except the blue one work. Does this describe every pen in the world?

Compare a model and explanation

No.

These pens limits the group.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. All four members came. All four members except Tim came; Tim stayed home. Which includes an exception?

Compare a model and explanation

The second sentence.

Tim is explicitly excluded in the supplied facts.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. All group members can meet Tuesday except Aya. She is free Wednesday.

Compare a model and explanation

Everyone except Aya can meet on Tuesday. Aya is free on Wednesday.

State the exception and a useful additional fact.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Organiser: Is everyone ready for the walk?

Helper: Everyone except Dan. He’s still looking for his shoes.

Organiser: Are all the bags packed?

Helper: Yes, apart from his. The others are by the door.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. Who is not here yet?
Read the listening transcript

All five people are here except Lila. She’ll join us later.

2. Which room needs work?
Read the listening transcript

Every room is ready apart from the small office. That room still needs cleaning.

3. Which evening is unavailable?
Read the listening transcript

I can meet every evening except Thursday. On Thursday, I have a class.

Answer key with explanations

  1. Who is not here yet?

    Lila.: The exception and follow-up identify her absence.

    Compare all choices
    • Nobody.: Lila is explicitly not there yet.
    • Lila.: The exception and follow-up identify her absence.
    • All five people.: The rest are present.

  2. Which room needs work?

    The small office.: It is the exception to ready.

    Compare all choices
    • Every room.: The other rooms are ready.
    • The kitchen.: No kitchen exception is named.
    • The small office.: It is the exception to ready.

  3. Which evening is unavailable?

    Thursday.: The exception and reason agree.

    Compare all choices
    • Thursday.: The exception and reason agree.
    • All evenings.: Only one evening is excluded.
    • Tuesday.: Tuesday is not excluded.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Choose the neutral pronoun form: Everyone except ___ is here.
2. All rooms except the kitchen are ready; the kitchen is unfinished. Which is not ready?
3. Choose the correct phrase.
4. What does these in all these books except one do?
5. Choose the same exception as All rooms are ready apart from the studio.
6. Is apart from always an exception expression?
7. Choose a clear exception message.
8. Which form keeps the exception as a short noun phrase?
Answer key with explanations

  1. Choose the neutral pronoun form: Everyone except ___ is here.

    me: Me is the object form in the target pattern.

    Compare all choices
    • me: Me is the object form in the target pattern.
    • mine is: This does not fit the noun-phrase slot.
    • my: My needs a noun.

  2. All rooms except the kitchen are ready; the kitchen is unfinished. Which is not ready?

    The kitchen.: The stated exception is unfinished.

    Compare all choices
    • Every room.: The other rooms are ready.
    • The kitchen.: The stated exception is unfinished.
    • No room.: The kitchen is explicitly not ready.

  3. Choose the correct phrase.

    every day except Monday: Except introduces the excluded day.

    Compare all choices
    • every except day Monday: The phrase order is incorrect.
    • every day except not Monday: The unnecessary not confuses the intended exception.
    • every day except Monday: Except introduces the excluded day.

  4. What does these in all these books except one do?

    It limits the group being discussed.: The statement is about the indicated books.

    Compare all choices
    • It limits the group being discussed.: The statement is about the indicated books.
    • It means every book everywhere.: These makes the set narrower.
    • It removes the exception.: One book remains excluded.

  5. Choose the same exception as All rooms are ready apart from the studio.

    Apart from the studio, all rooms are ready.: The studio remains the exception.

    Compare all choices
    • No room is ready.: That denies the main statement.
    • Apart from the studio, all rooms are ready.: The studio remains the exception.
    • The studio is the only room ready.: This reverses which part is ready.

  6. Is apart from always an exception expression?

    No; context can give it an additional meaning too.: Its use is not limited to exclusion.

    Compare all choices
    • Yes, in every sentence.: That is too absolute.
    • No, it can never exclude.: It does exclude in the supplied lesson contexts.
    • No; context can give it an additional meaning too.: Its use is not limited to exclusion.

  7. Choose a clear exception message.

    Everyone except Kai can attend; Kai is away.: The exception and explanation are consistent.

    Compare all choices
    • Everyone except Kai can attend; Kai is away.: The exception and explanation are consistent.
    • Everyone Kai except attend can.: The sentence order is incorrect.
    • Everyone except Kai can attend; nobody can attend.: The added clause contradicts the stated available group in this context.

  8. Which form keeps the exception as a short noun phrase?

    except the last page: A noun phrase follows except.

    Compare all choices
    • except the page last the: The noun phrase order is wrong.
    • except the last page: A noun phrase follows except.
    • except to page last: This does not form the target phrase.

Use it in your own words

Availability

Give a fictional weekly schedule with one exception.

Reveal a possible response

I can meet every evening except Friday.

  • Name the full set
  • Name the excluded member

A different schedule is acceptable.

Check a room

Say that a group of objects is ready, with one clear exception and a reason.

Reveal a possible response

All the chairs are ready except the red one. Its leg is broken.

  • Keep the group clear
  • Explain the exception

The objects and problem can be invented.

Put it all together

Organise a small study session. Everyone can attend except one person; all supplies are ready except one item. Explain both exceptions and suggest a practical response.

Reveal a possible response

Everyone except Niko can come on Tuesday. He’s free on Wednesday. All the supplies are ready except the paper, so I’ll bring some.

  • State two clear exceptions
  • Keep people and things distinct
  • Add a useful next step

Use a different coherent plan if preferred.

Take it with you

Except removes a person or item from a stated group. Keep the group and exception clear. Apart from can have other meanings, so use context.