except vs except for

[Most Moon]

Hi!
I'm S.H. Moon from South Korea. I'd like to know the difference in usage between 'except' and 'except for'. I'm stressed not to know what the word should be choosen whenever I use the word. Could you provide sample sentences for each. Thank you.

[Maeve]

S.H.,
Good question. In setting myself to answer it I discovered that there is plenty to say about except and I may write a post about it.

To give you a short answer, except is the usual preposition. It implies simple exclusion.

Ex. Let's invite everyone except Charlie.
I like all my subjects except algebra.

Some speakers might say "except for algebra" in the second example, but the for is not needed in such a list.

Except for has the sense of "exception being made for, were it not for, but for."

Ex. Except for the brave fireman, I'd be dead.

Btw, the verb choose has a tricky spelling in its principal parts:
choose, chose, (have) chosen.

[Most Moon]

Eureka!!! Maeve, I appreciate your answer. It's good explanation 'except for' has the sense of 'exception being made for'. One more thank for your indicaiton for my misspelled word. Btw, I have a question about the past participle in your saying. You wrote the form of the p.p '(have) chosen'. I have known the original form of the past particle as 'be+p.p', not 'have+p.p'. Am I wrong?

[Maeve]

Most Moon,
The past participle is the verb form that is used with the helping verbs has and have:

We have gone to Rome.
The dog has barked all night.

The past participle form of the verb can also be used with to be in some constructions:

It remains to be seen.

[fghi002]

You look great!