salbu / ezik

Except

Level 5

Denak etorri dira, Ane salbu. (Everyone has come except Ane.) Zu izan ezik, denek badakite. (Everyone knows except you.)

How It Works

1. salbu. It can come before or after the phrase: Denak etorri dira, Ane salbu. Salbu Mikel, denak ados zeuden.

2. izan ezik. Put it after the phrase: Zu izan ezik, denek badakite. Euskaltzaindia recommends izan ezik over bare ezik for this meaning.

3. Keeping the case. When the excepted phrase matches a phrase with a case ending, it can keep that ending:

  • Denda egunero irekitzen da, igandeetan izan ezik. (igandeetan keeps its "on" ending)
  • Denei eman diet opari bat, Aneri salbu. (Aneri is dative, like denei)

4. Do not confuse with ez ezik. X ez ezik ... ere means "not only X, but also": Ane ez ezik, Mikel ere etorri da. (Not only Ane but Mikel has come too.) It adds someone instead of leaving them out.

Tip: In a list with denak or guztiak, use salbu or izan ezik to take one out. Use ere with ez ezik to add one in.

Examples (5)

  1. Denak etorri dira, Ane salbu.

    Everyone has come except Ane.

  2. Zu izan ezik, denek badakite.

    Everyone knows except you.

  3. Salbu Mikel, denak ados zeuden.

    Everyone except Mikel agreed.

    salbu can also come before the phrase.

  4. Denda egunero irekitzen da, igandeetan izan ezik.

    The shop opens every day except on Sundays.

    igandeetan keeps its inessive ending.

  5. Denei eman diet opari bat, Aneri salbu.

    I gave everyone a present except Ane.

    Aneri is dative, like denei.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ez ezik for "except".

    Denak etorri dira, Ane ez ezik.
    Denak etorri dira, Ane izan ezik.

    If you mean "except Ane", ez ezik is the wrong phrase: it means "not only" and needs ere. To leave someone out, use izan ezik or salbu.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

salbu / ezikLevel 5Except

Learn This First

Except follows only.

Words in This Pattern

salbuizan ezik