Level 3 · Intermediate
Except and besides: 除了…（以外）
除了 A（以外），Subj. + 都 / 也 / 还 … · Traditional: 除了 A（以外），Subj. + 都 / 也 / 還 …
除了…以外 opens a sentence by setting A apart — but whether A is EXCLUDED or INCLUDED depends on the word before the verb. With 都, A is the exception: 除了他以外，我们都去了 "everyone went except him".
With 也 or 还, A is included and you're adding more: 除了中文以外，他还会说英文 "besides Chinese, he can also speak English". The 以外 part is optional — 除了星期天，我每天都上班 works fine without it.
Examples
除了他以外，我们都去了。
除了他以外，我們都去了。
chú le tā yǐ wài wǒ men dōu qù le
Everyone went except him.
除了中文以外，他还会说英文。
除了中文以外，他還會說英文。
chú le zhōng wén yǐ wài tā hái huì shuō Yīng wén
Besides Chinese, he can also speak English.
除了星期天，我每天都上班。
chú le xīng qī tiān wǒ měi tiān dōu shàng bān
Except for Sunday, I work every day.
除了苹果以外，我也喜欢吃香蕉。
除了蘋果以外，我也喜歡吃香蕉。
chú le píng guǒ yǐ wài wǒ yě xǐ huan chī xiāng jiāo
Besides apples, I also like eating bananas.
Common mistakes
✗ 除了苹果以外，我都喜欢吃香蕉。
✓ 除了苹果以外，我也喜欢吃香蕉。
都 makes A the exception — to ADD something, use 也 or 还.
Related grammar points
Practice this pattern in graded stories like The Rice-Only Brother (Part 1) inside the Literate Chinese app.
