[Grammar] Using "that" twice

If I am making a statement about something I enjoy doing, how can I state it a correct format without the overuse of that? Here is what I would like to say in the correct form or sentence: " I can do that I am ivigorated by doing." or "I can do that that invigorates me."

'I do what invigorates me.'

Rover

Hi, AmyYvonne. I'm not a teacher.

You have another option - "that which invigorates me". This is more correct than "that that" since a verb comes straight after it. You shouldn't really say (though this rule is not so strict in English) "the thing that invigorates me", but instead "the thing which invigorates me". SEE EDIT

If you want to improve your English grammar, don't copy Kanye West - "that that don't kill me"!

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Edit: Don't kill me - I made a mistake. The preferred version here is "the thing that invigorates me". It is a restrictive clause. "the thing which invigorates me" is okay in informal contexts but it is best to use "that" in this case.

Sorry!

ollieacappella said:

Hi, AmyYvonne. I'm not a teacher.

You have another option - "that which invigorates me". This is more correct than "that that" since a verb comes straight after it. You shouldn't really say (though this rule is not so strict in English) "the thing that invigorates me", but instead "the thing which invigorates me".

If you want to improve your English grammar, don't copy Kanye West - "that that don't kill me"!

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I really appreciate your help. This form of language has haunted me for some time now. I like the second option, thus, I have written this way: "the thing which invigorates me, I am compelled to do." Would this suffice?

AmyYvonne said:

I really appreciate your help. This form of language has haunted me for some time now. I like the second option, thus, I have written this way: "the thing which invigorates me, I am compelled to do." Would this suffice?

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It doesn't sound very English to use this sentence order. It is better, in terms of the order, to say "I am compelled to do the thing which invigorates me". Similarly, the idiom is "You are what you eat", not "What you eat, you are".

I used "the thing which" as an example of the general rule that I stated - you shouldn't really use it in this sentence. When you say "the thing", it almost sounds like you are referring to something specific. The best way, in my opinion, of saying this is:

"I am compelled to do what invigorates me" or "I am compelled to do that which invigorates me".

But then... what do I know - I'm not a teacher!

Rover_KE said:

'I do what invigorates me.'

Rover

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I agree, so this is my final decision. "I do what invigorates me."

Thank You

AmyYvonne said:

I agree, so this is my final decision. "I do what invigorates me."

Thank You

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A jolly good decision! Haha!

'I do what invigorates me.' Hmm, this doesn't sound natural to me. I'm not so sure if that's because of the 'what' instead of 'whatever' or 'things that/which', or the 'invigorates me' instead of 'I find invigorating'. Maybe I just can't think of a context where 'I do what invigorates me' would sound natural.

bertietheblue said:

'I do what invigorates me.' Hmm, this doesn't sound natural to me. I'm not so sure if that's because of the 'what' instead of 'whatever' or 'things that/which', or the 'invigorates me' instead of 'I find invigorating'. Maybe I just can't think of a context where 'I do what invigorates me' would sound natural.

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I agree, I would prefer "whatever" or "that which" too.

ollieacappella said:

Hi, AmyYvonne. I'm not a teacher.

You have another option - "that which invigorates me". This is more correct than "that that" since a verb comes straight after it. You shouldn't really say (though this rule is not so strict in English) "the thing that invigorates me", but instead "the thing which invigorates me".

If you want to improve your English grammar, don't copy Kanye West - "that that don't kill me"!

Click to expand...

Why shouldn't one say "the thing that invigorates me"?

Jasmin165 said:

Why shouldn't one say "the thing that invigorates me"?

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I've just read up on restrictive and non-restrictive clauses and I am wrong. I was relying on a rule I learnt in French and assuming that it was the same in English, i.e., wrongly assuming that que = that, and qui = which.

My apologies!