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Lesson

Besides / Except (除了…以外)

1. Explain it simply

除了 + noun + 以外 sets that noun aside, then the second clause talks about the rest.

除了 … 以外,都 means 'except X, all the others': 除了他以外,我们都去。

除了 … 以外,还/也 means 'besides X, also Y': 除了咖啡以外,他也喝茶。

2. Show examples

除了他以外,我们都去。

Chúle tā yǐwài, wǒmen dōu qù.

Except him, we all go.

都 = all the rest

除了苹果以外,我还想买香蕉。

Chúle píngguǒ yǐwài, wǒ hái xiǎng mǎi xiāngjiāo.

Besides apples, I also want to buy bananas.

还 = in addition

除了星期天以外,我每天都上班。

Chúle xīngqītiān yǐwài, wǒ měitiān dōu shàngbān.

Except Sunday, I go to work every day.

set one day aside

3. Share a tip

Keep the order 除了 + noun + 以外; the second clause always needs 都, 也, or 还.

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