[Grammar] A sentence that includes relative adverbs

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tara

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Hello,

I'm having a difficulty understanding a sentence.
Actually, it's a line from "Dr.House".

I understand the meaning of each sentence;
1. Do you have some ethical problem with what I’m doing
2. that you can express in a unique way
3. which might actually make me think that I’m wrong
even though I’ll never admit it?

But when they become one sentence, I don't understand
how they connect. It seems very complicated to me.

Does it mean "Do you have some ethical problem with my behaviour, and
can you make me think I'm wrong by expressing my behaviour in a unique way, even though I'll never admit I'm wrong?"???

Thank you,
Tara
 

corum

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Hello,

I'm having a difficulty understanding a sentence.
Actually, it's a line from "Dr.House".

I understand the meaning of each sentence;
1. Do you have some ethical problem with what I’m doing
2. that you can express in a unique way
3. which might actually make me think that I’m wrong
even though I’ll never admit it?

But when they become one sentence, I don't understand
how they connect. It seems very complicated to me.

Does it mean "Do you have some ethical problem with my behaviour, and
can you make me think I'm wrong by expressing my behaviour in a unique way, even though I'll never admit I'm wrong?"???

Thank you,
Tara

Do you have some ethical problem with what I’m doing that you can express in a unique way

In this part the relative clause that hinges on "some ethical problem" is extraposed.

=
Do you have [some ethical problem that you can express in a unique way] [with what I’m doing]?

+

which might actually make me think that I’m wrong even though I’ll never admit it

which = some ethical problem that you can express in a unique way with what I’m doing = X

Do you have X which...

There is no relative adverb in your sentence, only nominal relative pronouns.

Bit convoluted, is it not?
 

Raymott

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Hello,

I'm having a difficulty understanding a sentence.
Actually, it's a line from "Dr.House".

I understand the meaning of each sentence;
1. Do you have some ethical problem with what I’m doing
2. that you can express in a unique way
3. which might actually make me think that I’m wrong
even though I’ll never admit it?

But when they become one sentence, I don't understand
how they connect. It seems very complicated to me.

Does it mean "Do you have some ethical problem with my behaviour, and
can you make me think I'm wrong by expressing my behaviour in a unique way, even though I'll never admit I'm wrong?"???

Thank you,
Tara
You're close, but I'm not sure why you've changed "that you can express in a unique way" into "that I can can express in a unique way by my behaviour".
It's very complicated because so is House.

What he means is this:
If you have a problem with my ethics, can you convince me that I'm wrong without my having to admit to it.

That would have to be done in a 'unique way' because normally, if you convince someone they are wrong, they generally have to admit it, at least in their subsequent actions. But House can't do this. He wants to be convinced that he's wrong, but maintain the facade of always being right.
 

tara

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Student or Learner
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Japan
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Japan
Hi Corum,

I still don't understand its meaning, but I appreciate you trying to explain
the sentence.

Thank you,
Tara
 

tara

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Student or Learner
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Japanese
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Japan
Hi Raymott,

Thank you so much for your kind explanation.

>You're close, but I'm not sure why you've changed "that you can express in a unique way" into "that I can can express in a unique way by my behaviour".

I didn't mean to change the way you point out, but am sorry for making it even more complicated.


>What he means is this:
If you have a problem with my ethics, can you convince me that I'm wrong without my having to admit to it.

That would have to be done in a 'unique way' because normally, if you convince someone they are wrong, they generally have to admit it, at least in their subsequent actions. But House can't do this. He wants to be convinced that he's wrong, but maintain the facade of always being right.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for paraphrasing it in such an easy-to-understand manner.
Now I think I understand the meaning of it.:)

Tara
 
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