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Tommyek Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Everything THAT or WHAT

Hi! I know that this sentence is grammatically correct "I want to know everything that happened." and that one isn't "I want to know everything WHAT happened."

But, there is a song title, a TV show name and etc. formed in this way "Everything what u want."

Is it grammatically correct?
  

Top answer

", is grammatically correct - very formal, grammatical kind of speech (which might not always be the best way to speak, because you can sound rather stuffy talking like this). ", is not considered grammatical. However, some people actually speak this way, and there's a kind of down-home type charm to this kind of speech - and it might even be desireable to speak like this in certain situations (for example, if you want to sound very folksy, without a trace of stuffiness).

— Anonymous

  • ", is grammatically correct - very formal, grammatical kind of speech (which might not always be the best way to speak, because you can sound rather stuffy talking like this).
  • ", is not considered grammatical.
  • However, some people actually speak this way, and there's a kind of down-home type charm to this kind of speech - and it might even be desireable to speak like this in certain situations (for example, if you want to sound very folksy, without a trace of stuffiness).
  • That title, "Everything what you want", would not be considered grammatical, but again, some people talk like this, and this type of folksy, non-stuffy speech has charm and appeal in certain situations.
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3 Answers
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The sentence, "I want to know everything that happened.", is grammatically correct - very formal, grammatical kind of speech (which might not always be the best way to speak, because you can sound rather stuffy talking like this).

The sentence, "I want to know everything what happened.", is not considered grammatical. However, some people actually speak this way, and there's a kind of do
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TommyekEverything what you want.
This is ungrammatical, but you will hear it. The substitution of 'what' for 'that' is characteristic of the lower classes in England if I'm not mistaken. I don't hear it in the U.S.

CJ
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And contrary to another opinion expressed in their thread, you will NOT sound stuffy saying a perfectly ordinary sentence like "I want to know everything that happened." It's not overly formal, nor is it stuffy.

"Impart to me all that has transpired" -- now THAT would be stuffy and overly formal!
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