HSK 3

除了⋯⋯(以外),⋯⋯还/也/都⋯⋯

chú le ⋯ ⋯ ( yǐ wài ) , ⋯ ⋯ hái / yě / dōu ⋯ ⋯

除了……(以外),……还/也/都……

Explanation

This is the fixed structure 除了...(以外),...还/也/都... used to exclude one item and then add or include others. 除了 (chúle) means "besides / apart from", 以外 (yǐwài, outside) can be added for clarity, while 还 (hái, also) / 也 (yě, too) / 都 (dōu, all) in the second clause determines the meaning.

Structure

除了 (chúle) + A + (以外),+ Subject + 还/也/都 + ...

When to use

use 还 or 也 when you want to ADD something else besides A (besides attending class, also joining activities); use 都 when you want to say that EXCEPT for A, all the rest are the same (except Beijing, all other places have not been visited).

Distinguish

除了...还/也... = "including both A and something else"; while 除了...都... = "excluding A, the rest are...". Choosing 还/也 versus 都 wrongly completely changes the meaning of the sentence.

Common mistakes

often forgetting the correlative word 还/也/都 in the second clause, writing only 除了... which leaves the sentence incomplete. 以外 is optional and can be omitted.

Examples

除了上课,我还要参加各种活动。
chúleshàngháiyàocānjiāzhǒnghuódòng

Besides attending class, I also have to take part in all sorts of activities.

除了我,我姐姐和弟弟也会说中文。
chúlejiějiedihuìshuōzhōngwén

Besides me, my older sister and younger brother can also speak Chinese.

除了北京以外,中国的其他城市我都没去过。
chúleběijīngwàizhōngguódechéngshìdōuméiguò

Except for Beijing, I have never been to any of China's other cities.

Practice

Test your understanding with a quick quiz

Learn “除了⋯⋯(以外),⋯⋯还/也/都⋯⋯” effectively

The grammar point “除了⋯⋯(以外),⋯⋯还/也/都⋯⋯” (除了……(以外),……还/也/都……) is one of the key structures at HSK 3. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.

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