1. except 的意思是“除……外”，它表示的“排除”指的是所说的不包括在内。如：

Everyone except me got an invitation.

The window is never opened except in summer.

2. except 之后可接不定式，有时带to（此时其前通常没有do），有时不带to（此时其前通常有do）。如：

He did everything except wash clothes.

He likes nothing except to watch TV.

3. except 后除可接名词、代词、介词短语、不定式等外，还可接各类从句，例如 what, that, when, where, why 等从句。如：

We knew nothing about it except what he told us.

We know nothing about him except that he is from Paris.

I like her except when she was angry.

I understand everything except why he stole the money.

My papers seem to be everywhere except where they ought to be.

4. except 通常不能置于句首，但except for 可以。用于句首时 except for 与 except 同义，但除此之外，两者用法还是有差别的。except 主要用来谈论同类的东西，而 except for则主要用来谈论不同类的东西，有时含有惋惜之意。如：

All compositions are well written except yours.

His composition is good except for a few spelling mistakes.