adj. clause

Question

I wanna hide my happiness to a place where you don't know!Can anyone correct this sentence for me?I have no idea whether I should omit "a place" or not?thank you for your help!!!!! &gt;&lt;

Laborious · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI wanna hide my happiness to a place where you don't know!

Actually, I'd reword your sentence this way: I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know! Or this way: I want to hide my happiness in a place which you can't find! (The underlined 'whichs' refers to the place where you hide your happiness).

(Please note that 'wanna' is not an appropriate word in written English, though there is no problem using it in spoken English.)

Anonymous · Answer

thanks a lot!!!

Grammarfreak · Answer

Laborious I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!

Actually, "where " was correctly used here despite the odd context. A place can be: a Cafe, park, restaurant, office, and store.
Consider: It was here in this restaurant where I proposed to Catherine 10 years ago.
I was so embarrassed when she turned me down that I wanted to find a place to hide where no one knows me.

In some context, "where" and "which " are interchangeable.

Laborious · Answer

grammarfreakIn some context, "where" and "which " are interchangeable.

Yes, I agree with you that in some cases, they can be used interchangeably. But I'm afraid I don't agree with you in that they are interchangeable in the sentence "I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!" Suppose, do you think we can use 'where' in "I want to go to a place where he doesn't know"? Honestly speaking, 'where' in this example doesn't work for me, and so does it in "I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!". It just sounds like something is missing from the sentences. Yes, I can agree with you on the thing that we could omit 'which' (or your where) in this and say "I want to hide my happiness in a place you don't know", but doubt if we can use 'where' in it.

I was so embarrassed when she turned me down that I wanted to find a place to hide where no one knows me.

But here you had to use 'me' at the end. If you removed 'me' placed at the end, it, too, would sound unnatural, at least, to me. On the other hand, it would, I suppose, be perfectly fine to say your above sentence without 'me' if we used 'which', instead, i.e. I was so embarrassed when she turned me down that I wanted to find a place to hide which on one knows.

I can't explain it in terms of grammar, but I just said what I thought was right. ..

Grammarfreak · Answer

LaboriousI was so embarrassed when she turned me down that I wanted to find a place to hide where no one knows me. But here you had to use 'me' at the end. If you removed 'me' placed at the end, it, too, would sound unnatural, at least, to me. On the other hand, it would, I suppose, be perfectly fine to say your above sentence without 'me' if we used 'which', instead, i.e. I was so embarrassed when she turned me down that I wanted to find a place to hide which on one knows.

Laborious,
Just so I made my point clear, I didn't imply that "where" and "which " were interchangeable in the topic sentence. In fact "where " is the choice. I sense that you took it that way.

Laborious"I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!"

This is how sometime awkward sentences caused syntax and semantics problems . Grammatically this sentence is correct. However,"I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!" is not a natural sentence from the oral perspective. Although I am not a native of the language, I have studied it and used it technically for many years. Which - is not a correct pronoun in your version because it is ambiguous. There are two pronouns here. Does it refer to "happiness" or the "place"? Where -on the other hand is clear. It can only refer to a "place" as I posted in the last thread.

I used the pronoun " me" in my sentence to demonstrate the context application. Me - is necessary in the construction. Take a look at this article:books.google.com/books?isbn=1418552658https://www.google.com/search?sa=N&espv=2&biw=1536&bih=764&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Chuck+Smith%22&ei=-CbNU_jUM8X9oAT3joKAAw&ved=0CB0Q9AgwADgK - 2006 - ?Religion

“If only I could go to a place where no one knows me, and those who do know me cannot find me.” We escape our worsening reality until it no longer allows us to.

LaboriousI suppose, be perfectly fine to say your above sentence without 'me' if we used 'which', instead, i.e. I was so embarrassed when she turned me down that I wanted to find a place to hide which no one knows.

I am afraid the way you edited my sentence is wrong. Again, "which" still presents an issue of ambiguity (me? or place?) If you must use "which", I will suggest this:
I want to hide in a place which is thousands of miles away from any civilization.

I want to hide in a place where people don't know me.

Blue Jay · Answer

LaboriousYes, I agree with you that in some cases, they can be used interchangeably. But I'm afraid I don't agree with you in that they are interchangeable in the sentence "I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!"

I agree. Where doesn't work in that sentence. A loose rule (to which there may be exceptions) is that which refers back to the place itself, while where makes the place the site of another action.
A place which you don't know.
A place where you don't know anyone.
A place where you don't go.
A place which you don't go to.
A place which you don't visit. (Visit in the sense of "go to" rather than "spend time")
A place where you don't visit. (Visit in the sense of "spend time" rather than "go to")
A place which you don't destroy.
A place where you don't destroy (engage in destruction)
A place where you don't eat.
A place which you don't eat. (Don't eat the place!)

Blue Jay · Answer

grammarfreakThis is how sometime awkward sentences caused syntax and semantics problems . Grammatically this sentence is correct. However,"I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!" is not a natural sentence from the oral perspective. Although I am not a native of the language, I have studied it and used it technically for many years. Which - is not a correct pronoun in your version because it is ambiguous. There are two pronouns here. Does it refer to "happiness" or the "place"? Where -on the other hand is clear. It can only refer to a "place" as I posted in the last thread.

"I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!" is an odd statement, but there is nothing wrong with it as far as grammar and word choice are concerned. The ambiguity of which you speak would not exist in the mind of a native speaker, in fact it's hard to see how anyone would take which to refer to happiness here. The only possible alternate meaning would be "I want to hide my happiness in a place; which you don't know!" which is an even odder statement than the original interpretation.

Grammarfreak · Answer

Blue JayI want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!" is an odd statement, but there is nothing wrong with it as far as grammar and word choice are concerned.

BJ,
If I am not mistaken, I think you are agreeing with whatI said. "^{Grammatically this sentence is correct."}

Blue Jay "I want to hide my happiness in a place which you don't know!"

The reason why I said " This is how sometime awkward sentences caused syntax and semantics problems" Was because the OP sentence sounded unnatural to my ear. As corrections were made to make the sentence more sensible based on the original text, sometimes it can cause problems in the process, as we've experienced with the discussion.
I commented the use of "which " was ambiguous. Perhaps not to you in this particular case. Just for discussion sake, what if I change "happiness" to " money ". Does the ambiguity problem become more apparent ? I want to hide my money in a place which no one can find.
I perceived the ambiguity with the use of " which" in the original sentence, however "where" can only refer to a place. ( the place no one can find) That was the point I tried t o make.

Blue Jay"I want to hide my happiness in a place; which you don't know!"

Oh no! not with a semicolon. I will never do that.

Fivejedjon · Answer

grammarfreak Just for discussion sake, what if I change "happiness" to " money ". Does the ambiguity problem become more apparent ? I want to hide my money in a place which no one can find.

There is no ambiguity. The antecedent of 'which' is 'place'

Grammarfreak · Answer

fivejedjonThere is no ambiguity. The antecedent of 'which' is 'place'

Then, please tell me, what is the antecedent of "which" in this sentence; "account " right ?
I'd better start using a 9 digit Alpha-numeric password on my account which a hacker can't
easily decode.

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