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Thread: why or that
- 03-Mar-2007, 01:24 #1
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why or that 1. Is there any reason ______ you can't come?
2. The reason _____ I'm late is because I missed the bus.
Which fits better in the blanks, why or that?
Is it possible that both fit?
- 03-Mar-2007, 02:05 #2
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Re: why or that In my opinions ,we will use " why" in both of those blanks
.
- 03-Mar-2007, 04:31 #3
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Re: why or that I think so, too.
- 03-Mar-2007, 05:01 #4
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Re: why or that According to Understanding English Grammar by Martha Kolln (4rth Edition. MacMillan Publishing Company: New York. 1994. cited here), the relative adverb why modifies the noun reason and it is often omitted in that environment:
Ex: Do you know the reason why Isabel isn't in class today?
Ex: Do you know the reason Isabel isn't in class today?
Moreover, many writers prefer "that" in a clause referring to "reason":
Ex: I know the reason that men like motorcycles.
All the best.
