[Grammar] Correct preposition for directions

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ri_ri

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Hello!

Suppose I'm talking about a game character and he is looking at some direction (angle). Are all below expressions grammatically ok to refer to that direction?

1) "The direction at which this character looks."
2) "The direction which this character looks at."
3) "The direction that this character looks at."
4) "The direction that this character is looking at."
5) "The direction which this character is looking at."
6) "The direction at which this character is looking."

Thanks!
 

emsr2d2

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In BrE, people would naturally say "The direction this character looks in".

What direction are you looking in?
I'm looking east.

If I can work out why we use "to look in" in the question but not in the answer, I'll let you know!
 

ri_ri

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Thanks, emsr2d2!

Just some more questions about that:
1) So, are the prepositions "which" or "that" before "this character" just optional in this case, unnatural, or really prohibitive? I mean:
"The direction which this character looks in"
"The direction that this character looks in"

2) If it is optional (ie, also correct), is the following still correct?
"The direction in which this caracter looks"

3) If I'm talking about an object, instead of a direction, is "at" the correct preposition? Something like:
"The thing this character looks at"

Thanks!
ri
 

emsr2d2

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Thanks, emsr2d2!

Just some more questions about that:
1) So, are the prepositions "which" or "that" before "this character" just optional in this case, unnatural, or really prohibitive? I mean:
"The direction which this character looks in."
"The direction that this character looks in."

It's optional. There is nothing wrong with "The direction this character looks in".

2) If it is optional (ie, also correct), is the following still correct?
"The direction in which this character looks."

Yes, that sentence is correct.


3) If I'm talking about an object, instead of a direction, is "at" the correct preposition? Something like:
"The thing this character looks at."

Yes, that's fine.

Thanks!
ri

See above - amendments are responses are in red.
 

MikeNewYork

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Hello!

Suppose I'm talking about a game character and he is looking at some direction (angle). Are all below expressions grammatically ok to refer to that direction?

1) "The direction at which this character looks."
2) "The direction which this character looks at."
3) "The direction that this character looks at."
4) "The direction that this character is looking at."
5) "The direction which this character is looking at."
6) "The direction at which this character is looking."

Thanks!

I agree with emsr. "In which" this character looks is a good choice.
 

ri_ri

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Great!
Thank you very much, emsr2d2 ​and MikeNewYork!
 
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