Accept | except
Video: Accept or Except - Easily Confused Words by Grammar Monster at GrammarMonster.com (new tab). (Watching time 3m:04secs)
Accept and except have very different meanings, but because the sound so similar in speech they cause problems for students.
Accept
A verb that means to agree with something, or to agree to take something
A verb meaning to agree to something, to agree to take something or (in other words) to receive something. It also means to acknowledge something as truth.
I humbly accept this bravery award (but anyone would have done the same in my position).
Many people do not accept Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
Except
A preposition that means exclusion, leaving something out, not including
Except is a preposition, which means not including, apart from.
Its noun form is exception as in when someone makes an exception
Everyone else was chosen for the team except me.
I bought a gift for everyone except Katherine.
Except also means other than and behaves a little like but or however when used as a conjunction.
I would go skydiving, except I'm terrified of heights.
Rare exception for except
Rarely except can be used as a verb to means "leaving out"
There is a rare exception with except, which is sometimes (and rarely) useds as a verb that means to leave out or exclude.
No vehicles may use this lane, buses excepted
Complete the quiz items below to see if you have understood this lesson. Then click the blue arrow at the bottom of the page to check your answers.
Instructions: Hover or tap the questions below to see the reason for the answers given in the quiz.
1. One of the sentences below is correct, and one has an error. Select the correct sentence.
❍ i) That is an excellent gift, but I don't know if I can accept it.
❍ ii) I would ask him to help, accept he would try to take over.
i) ✔
Why: When talking about gifts, you agree to receive the gift, or you do not. The verb for this is accept.
2. Select from the list the two sentences that contain the meaning not including.
◻ i) No Entry - staff excepted.
◻ ii) Vouchers valid for seven days, except public holidays and during private functions.
◻ iii) Only EFTPOS or cash accepted.
◻ iv) I would help you willingly, except that I'm not available today.
i) staff excepted ✔
ii) except public holidays ✔
Why: i) means staff not included (in the no entry rule) and ii) means public holidays not included (so don't present your vouchers on a public holiday). (However, iii) means we agree to take EFTPOS and cash, and iv) means but | however.)
3. Select either except or accept for each space below to complete the sentences correctly.
i) Elizabeth found it difficult to _______ that she had failed another assignment. |
❍ except ❍ accept |
ii) I would like your help, ______ I know I can never pay you back. |
❍ except ❍ accept |
iii) The lecturer refused to ______ the student's excuse. |
❍ except ❍ accept |
i) accept ✔ | ii) except ✔ | iii) accept ✔
Why: In i) Elizabeth refuses to agree with (acknowledge) a fact. In ii) there's a but | however (except used as a contrast marker) and in iii) the lecturer is not willing to believe the student's excuses.
4. Below is a short paragraph which has 4 gaps needing either accept or except. Chose the appropriate words from the options below.
I am usually happy to ______ advice from people, _____ if it is from my sister, because she doesn't usually let people tell her what to do, (_____ when she has fallen in love). She needs to _____ that she is not the only person with good ideas.
i) I am usually happy to ______ advice from people, |
❍ except ❍ accept |
ii) , ______ when it is from my sister, |
❍ except ❍ accept |
iii) because she doesn't usually let people tell her what to do, (_____ when she has fallen in love). |
❍ except ❍ accept |
She needs to _____ that she is not the only person with good ideas. |
❍ except ❍ accept |
i) accept ✔ | ii) except ✔ | iii) except ✔ | i) accept ✔
Why: i) when you agree to 'receive' the gift of advice, ii) means not including when it is my sister iii) not including when she's fallen in love and iv) she needs to acknowledge and agree ...