exempt(ed) from

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mike morgan - 16 Jan 2004 22:36 GMT

Hello, I got a bit confused when I came across the necessity of using a
phrase including the expression mentioned in the topic. I couldn't simply
differentiate the two possible (are both indeed acceptable?) uses of
'exempt' and 'exempted from'. The question is - what is the difference, if
any, between the two following sentences: "He was exempted from the exam"
and "He was exempt from the exam". Is the latter correct? Maybe if the
example of the sentences including the word had a more general meaning, both
could be used, e.g. "Such people are exempt from the exam" vs "Such people
are exempted from the exam". Please enlighten me on that vague (to me)
matter. (I know that one is an adjective and the other passive form of the
verb.)
mike

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Michael Nitabach - 16 Jan 2004 22:43 GMT

> - what is the difference, if any, between the two following
> sentences: "He was exempted from the exam" and "He was exempt from
> the exam".

The latter means he met the conditions specified by a rule providing
for exemption from having to take the exam. The former means that he
was officially deemed exempt.

--
Mike Nitabach

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Don Phillipson - 16 Jan 2004 23:02 GMT

> . . . . I couldn't simply
> differentiate the two possible (are both indeed acceptable?) uses of
> 'exempt' and 'exempted from'. The question is - what is the difference, if
> any, between the two following sentences: "He was exempted from the exam"
> and "He was exempt from the exam". Is the latter correct?

There is no functional difference. A dictionary may
tell you whether the adjective exempt or the verb
exempt gave rise to the other, but your readers
do not care. Only a rhetorical nuance differentiates
the two forms in your examples. If you cannot
define the difference, it probably does not matter.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

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Donna Richoux - 16 Jan 2004 23:45 GMT

> Hello, I got a bit confused when I came across the necessity of using a
> phrase including the expression mentioned in the topic. I couldn't simply
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> matter. (I know that one is an adjective and the other passive form of the
> verb.)

That last remark is important. The adjective describes the guy's
condition. The passive verb refers (in a hidden way) to whoever it was
who performed the action, and the action they took.

He was exempt -- "exempt" describes his condition.
He was exempted -- somebody exempted him, somebody arranged for him to
be exempt.

The meaning in this case is the same, only the nuance is different.

You can see a similar relationship in other pairs. I forget which others
resemble exempt/exempted in form, but consider the difference between:

He is finished. Adj. -- "Finished" describes his status or condition.
He has finished. Verb -- He completed something.

Signature

Best -- Donna Richoux

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Steve Hayes - 17 Jan 2004 07:02 GMT

>Hello, I got a bit confused when I came across the necessity of using a
>phrase including the expression mentioned in the topic. I couldn't simply
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>verb.)
>mike

He was exempt from the exam means he did not need to write it (according to
the regulations).

He was exempted from the exam means that according to the regulations he ought
to have written the exam, but a person authorised to do so exempted him from
writing.

Signature

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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Michael Nitabach - 17 Jan 2004 13:29 GMT

> He was exempt from the exam means he did not need to write it
> (according to the regulations).
>
> He was exempted from the exam means that according to the
> regulations he ought to have written the exam, but a person
> authorised to do so exempted him from writing.

Not quite. He could have been exempted from the exam precisely because
the authorizing official determined that according to the regulations
he was indeed exempt.

--
Mike Nitabach

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Steve Hayes - 18 Jan 2004 05:24 GMT

>> He was exempt from the exam means he did not need to write it
>> (according to the regulations).
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>the authorizing official determined that according to the regulations
>he was indeed exempt.

In which case the official would not have exempted him, but merely informed hi
that according to the regulations he was exempt.

Signature

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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Michael Nitabach - 18 Jan 2004 19:04 GMT

>>> He was exempt from the exam means he did not need to write it
>>> (according to the regulations).
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> In which case the official would not have exempted him, but merely
> informed hi that according to the regulations he was exempt.

Not necesssarily. It is equally plausible that the official would
perform ministerial acts constituting institutional recognition of
the fact that the student was exempt. In other words, it is equally
plausible that the official exempted the student because he was
exempt. Saying that the official exempted the student does not imply
that the student was not, in fact, exempt.

Signature

Mike Nitabach

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

exempt(ed) from