HSK 3
除了...以外 Word Order in Chinese
除了...以外... frames one item against the rest of a set. 还 commonly adds another item or action. 也 can add one, but it also occurs in universal negatives such as 别的...也没... after an exception, so read the full continuation. 以外 may be omitted, and the phrase may precede or follow the subject.
STRUCTURE
除了 + Item, Subject + 还/也/都 + Predicate
When to use 除了…（以外）… — and when not
Use it when
- To add another item or action, commonly with 还: 除了中文以外，我还学习英文。
- To add a parallel person or thing with 也: 除了哥哥会唱歌以外，姐姐也会唱歌。
- To exclude one item, then describe the remainder with 都 or a universal negative containing 也: 除了我以外，大家都去了 / 除了这本书，别的我也没看。
Don't use it when
- Do not put 以外 before the item; 除了 and 以外 normally surround the item: 除了中文以外.
- Do not place 还, 也, or 都 before the subject it modifies; use 大家都去了, not 都大家去了.
- Do not mark a sentence wrong merely because 以外 is absent or because it uses 外 or 之外; all are established variants.
Right vs. wrong
除了以外中文，我还学习英文。
除了中文以外，我还学习英文。
以外 placed before the item
The item being added or excluded belongs between 除了 and 以外. Keep the frame together as 除了 + 中文 + 以外.
除了我以外，都大家去了。
除了我以外，大家都去了。
都 placed before the main-clause subject
大家 is the subject and 都 modifies the predicate 去了. Put the order as subject + 都 + predicate: 大家都去了.
Examples
除了中文以外，我还学习英文。
Chúle Zhōngwén yǐwài, wǒ hái xuéxí Yīngwén.
Besides Chinese, I also study English.
除了我以外，大家都去了。
Chúle wǒ yǐwài, dàjiā dōu qù le.
Everyone went except me.
除了星期天以外，他每天都上课。
Chúle xīngqītiān yǐwài, tā měitiān dōu shàng kè.
He attends class every day except Sunday.
除了看书，我还喜欢看电影。
Chúle kàn shū, wǒ hái xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng.
Besides reading, I also like watching movies.
除了哥哥会唱歌以外，姐姐也会唱歌。
Chúle gēge huì chàng gē yǐwài, jiějie yě huì chàng gē.
Besides my older brother, my older sister can sing too.
我除了水以外，还买了茶。
Wǒ chúle shuǐ yǐwài, hái mǎi le chá.
Besides water, I also bought tea.
Common mistakes
除了以外中文，我还学习英文。
Chúle yǐwài Zhōngwén, wǒ hái xuéxí Yīngwén.
Put the item between 除了 and 以外: 除了中文以外，我还学习英文。
除了我以外，都大家去了。
Chúle wǒ yǐwài, dōu dàjiā qù le.
Put the subject before 都: 除了我以外，大家都去了。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 除了…（以外）… sentence and check that grammar point first.
除了...以外 Word Order FAQ
Does 除了...以外 mean 'besides' or 'except'?
It can express either relation. 还 commonly adds another item, while 也 may add a parallel item or enter a universal negative such as 别的我也没看 after an exception. 都 commonly describes the remaining group, so the full continuation determines the meaning.
Can 以外 be omitted after 除了?
Yes. 除了看书，我还喜欢看电影 is complete, and 外 or 之外 can also close the phrase. Do not treat the absence of 以外 as an error.
Where can the 除了 phrase appear?
It may come before the subject, as in 除了中文以外，我还学习英文, or after a continuing subject, as in 我除了中文以外，还学习英文.