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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

explain

Please explain to me how that works

Please explain how that works to me.

Which is correct? I remember I was once told in this forum that the noun 'how that works' has to come immediately after the word 'explain'. But, I keep hearing the second version.

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

I hope it was not I who told you that. Both of your sentences are fine, and the first one is actually clearer because there is no momentary confusion about the meaning of 'works to me '. ) Please explain to all of our third year students, as well as their advisors and our non-academic staff, how that works .

— Mister Micawber

  • I hope it was not I who told you that.
  • Both of your sentences are fine, and the first one is actually clearer because there is no momentary confusion about the meaning of 'works to me '.
  • ) Please explain to all of our third year students, as well as their advisors and our non-academic staff, how that works .
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3 Answers
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I hope it was not I who told you that. Both of your sentences are fine, and the first one is actually clearer because there is no momentary confusion about the meaning of 'works to me'. You would, however, want to get the complement closer to its verb if it were very far away, as in:

(?) Please explain to all of our third year students, as well as their advisors and our
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The verb explain does not require any indication of who the explanation is addressed to, so in addition to those two versions, both correct, you can also say quite idiomatically:

Please explain how that works.

Everyone will understand that "to me" is what you mean.

CJ
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Thanks, MM and CalifJim. I noticed that 'to me' is rarely used with the word explain, however, occasionally I do hear it. Thanks for your comments.
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