«لَهُ عَلَيَّ عَشَرَةٌ إِلَّا ثَلَاثَةً»
“I owe him ten, except three.”
The larger amount is the exception’s base, ten; the excluded amount is three; the remainder is seven. This should not be analyzed as ten first becoming due and a later independent remission of three. A connected exception qualifies the original statement itself.
Calculation: 10 − 3 = 7.
Under a valid connected exception, the intended legally operative quantity is the remainder from the outset. Understanding how the exception operates is therefore more important than merely performing subtraction.