Fluentide
HSK 2

除了 + Noun/Verb, (Subject +) 也 + Verb

Reach for this when you want to add 'on top of' — 'besides X, Y also...' You name one thing the listener already knows, then pile on another. The pattern is everywhere in spoken Chinese, news writing, and lists of features or activities. The 也 in the second clause is non-negotiable: it carries the 'also' meaning that 除了 sets up. Slightly different from 除了…以外 (which can mean 'except,' a subtraction); with 也, the meaning is almost always addition.

Structure

除了 [A],[SUBJECT] 也 [VERB] [B]

chúle..., yě...

How to Think About It

除了 has two faces — addition ('besides X, also Y') and subtraction ('except X'). 也 in the second clause forces the addition reading. Think of 也 as the lock that fixes 除了's meaning: with 也, you're stacking. Swap 也 for 都 (除了 X,都 Y) and the meaning flips to subtraction ('everyone except X also does Y'). Same 除了, very different sentence — the second-clause adverb is what disambiguates.

Examples

除了中文,我也学日语。

Chúle Zhōngwén, wǒ yě xué Rìyǔ.

Besides Chinese, I also study Japanese.

除了北京,他也去过上海。

Chúle Běijīng, tā yě qù guò Shànghǎi.

Besides Beijing, he's also been to Shanghai.

除了喜欢看电影,她也喜欢看书。

Chúle xǐhuān kàn diànyǐng, tā yě xǐhuān kàn shū.

Besides liking movies, she also likes reading.

Common Mistake

Learners drop the 也 because English 'besides X, Y did Z' doesn't need an extra word. In Chinese, leaving out 也 makes the sentence sound unfinished — the listener is waiting for the connector that pairs with 除了. Always include 也 (or 还) in the second clause.

❌ Wrong

除了汽车,飞机需要油。

✅ Right

除了汽车,飞机也需要油。

Don't Confuse With

除了...都...

Same 除了, opposite meaning: subtraction. '除了我,大家都去了' = 'everyone except me went.' If you want addition, pair with 也; if you want exception, pair with 都.

除了...还...

Near-twin of 除了…也…, same addition meaning. 还 leans slightly toward 'in addition to' / 'on top of that'; 也 leans toward 'as well.' In most sentences they're interchangeable.

不但...而且...

'Not only...but also...' — emphasizes that both halves are true, often used to escalate. 除了…也… is more neutral and list-like; 不但…而且… feels like an argument being built.

Practice

  1. ___ 咖啡,我也喜欢喝茶。

    Show answer

    除了

  2. 除了中文,他 ___ 会说法语。

    Show answer

  3. Put in order: [除了 / 我 / 苹果 / 喜欢 / , / 也 / 橙子]

    Show answer

    除了苹果,我也喜欢橙子。

  4. Translate to Chinese: 'Besides cars, planes also need fuel.'

    Show answer

    除了汽车,飞机也需要油。

  5. Write one sentence using 除了…也… to describe two things you like, study, or do.

    Show answer

    Example answer: 除了跑步,我也喜欢游泳。 (Besides running, I also like swimming.)

Hear It in Real Episodes

This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode. Press play to hear the sentence:

除了汽车,飞机需要油。

Besides cars, airplanes also need oil.

Oil Above $100 as Hormuz Crisis DeepensElementary

Related Grammar Patterns

Acquire by listening

Hear 除了 + Noun/Verb, (Subject +) 也 + Verb in real Chinese, not in a textbook.

Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start.