more than (what) you want to know

[NAL123]

Consider these sentences of mine, please

1) The book will tell you more than what you want to know about the topic.
2) The book will tell you more than you want to know about the topic.

What is the difference between them, please?

 

[Rover_KE]

I see no difference.

 

[tedmc]

The first sounds better to me though they mean the same.

 

[Tarheel]

Do you know this one? (See below.)

I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the subject.

 

[NAL123]

Do you know this one? (See below.)

I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the subject.

Would this also be correct:

I learned more than what I ever wanted to know about the subject.

 

[emsr2d2]

Consider these sentences of mine, please.

1) The book will tell you more than what you want to know about the topic.
2) The book will tell you more than you want to know about the topic.

What is the difference between them? please? One "please" in a post is enough!

They mean the same but I prefer the second and always teach my students to omit the "what" in that construction.

Would this also be correct?

I learned more than what I ever wanted to know about the subject.

No. In that sentence, it's incorrect.

 

[Flask]

Consider these sentences of mine, please

1) The book will tell you more than what you want to know about the topic.
2) The book will tell you more than you want to know about the topic.

What is the difference between them, please?

In my opinion, there is a difference in meaning.

In (1), the "than"-clause refers to things you want to know about the topic. The book will tell you more than those things.

I wanted to know about whales' anatomy, so I read Moby-Dick. It told me more about them than what I wanted to know.

In (2), the "than"-clause refers to a level or extent of knowledge that you seek about the topic. The book will tell you more.

I wanted to know a little about whales, so I read Moby-Dick. It told me more about them than I wanted to know.