I agree with Temico. [It's a] Good example of ellipsis.
Quote:
M56: Google it.
Tom: Google what?
M56: [Google] Whatever it is that you need explaining.
Tom: (sarcastically) What a peculiar sentence! What language is it? LOL!
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Mind you, and even though it's correct, from Tom's point of view I can see why he thinks it's odd. Consider this,
Google
it.
Goodle
what?
[Google]
whatever it is that you need explaining.
The entire string, 'whatever it is that you . . . ' functions as the object of the omitted verb 'Google', but what function does the word 'whatever' play in that string? Is it the subject or the object? Moreover, if it's the subject, then what function does "it" play, and if it's the object, then what's it doing ahead of the subject? Isn't English word order SVO, and not OSV? Aha, maybe that's what Tom saw as "peculiar"?
It would have been less of a hassle, not to mention empowering if you replied, "It's a _____ structure, Tom."
Do you know the name of that structure?
Why not check it out?
