Difference between accept and agree

These words are often confused. They sound very similar but they have very different meanings.

Accept

Accept is a verb. It has several meanings. To accept is to take something offered.

I accept this award with great pleasure.

To accept is to say ‘yes’ to an invitation.

They offered her a job and she readily accepted it.

They have accepted most of our suggestions.

Don’t confuse agree and accept.

To express your willingness to do something, you have to use agree with a to-infinitive.

She agreed to come. (NOT She accepted to come.)

Accept can be followed by a noun or a that-clause.

Except

The word except is mainly used as a preposition. It can also be used as a conjunction.

Except as a preposition

As a preposition, except means ‘apart from’ or ‘not including’.

When except is used as a preposition, it should be followed by a noun.

We haven’t told anyone except James.

Everybody was there except John, who was ill.

Except as a conjunction

When except is used as a conjunction, it is followed by a clause or an adverbial expression.

I would like to help him, except I don’t have any money.

I would like to go trekking, except I am scared of heights.

Except can also be used before a conjunction such as ‘that’, ‘when’ or ‘if’.

I don’t know much about the girl, except that she is incredibly beautiful.