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Viceidol Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Why is "Can you show me the way how you did it?" incorrect?

Hello, everyone[<:o)]

I have a problem that has confused me for some time. Here is the problem. In the following sentence:

"I've forgotten the reason why I called."

The word "why" refers to the words "the reason". But in the sentence below,

"Can you show me the way how you did it?"

The word "how" does not refer to "the way ". Actually, my grammar books say those two words shouldn't even be put together at all. So this is my doubt. Why can't those words (the way and how) be put togetther? I really need your help. Thank you !!Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Hi Vicediol, To me, "how" and "way" do not seem to be connected. I would like the sentence to be rewritten as: Can you show me the way of doing it?

— Neeraj Jain

  • Hi Vicediol, To me, "how" and "way" do not seem to be connected.
  • I would like the sentence to be rewritten as: Can you show me the way of doing it?
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40 Answers
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Hi Vicediol,

To me, "how" and "way" do not seem to be connected. I would like the sentence to be rewritten as:

Can you show me the way of doing it?
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Hi Viceidol

"I've forgotten the reason why I called."

You hear this all the time, but in careful writing, you should write either "I've forgotten the reason I called" or "I've forgotten why I called." Not both. It's redundant.

"Can you show me the way how you did it?"

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Grammar GeekHi Viceidol

you'll hear "the reason why" quite frequently,

.....and I shudder every time I hear it. Even more so, with 'because' added: The reason why I did such-and-such is because [the reason I did such-and-such is that.....].
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Philip
Grammar GeekHi Viceidol

you'll hear "the reason why" quite frequently,

.....and I shudder every time I hear it. Even more so, with 'because' added: The reason why I did such-and-such is because [the reason I did such-and-such is that.....].
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Wow... interesting.
I alwayssay "the reason why". The reason why I say "the reason why" is that I thought that leaving out "why" sounded unnatural or "not so good". My dictionaries give "the reason why" as a collocation. Go figure...
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I've been thinking about this. I was definitely crossing my wires because I was thinking about when people use both "the reason" and "because" — not "the reason" and "why" which is the subject here.

I think the "why" can work like the "that" in "He's the man that I saw at the mall" (Although I really do prefer "who.") You can omit it, but you're not required to.

or

Tell
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Grammar GeekTell me about a time when you ...

Tell me about a situation in which you...

Tell me about a place where you...
That stuff always gives me trouble...
I would leave out the particle after expressions of time (That was the day I met... - instead of: the day when I met), even though I think both ways are ok.
But I wouldn'
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Sure you can.

The town I used to live in is a registered National Historic Landmark.

The town where I used to live is a registered...

Both sound fine to me.
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Oh, yeah, you said "live in" though. Emotion: wink (You added the proposition)
That's why I said "the place where" was ok. So you were probabl
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Philip
Grammar GeekHi Viceidol

you'll hear "the reason why" quite frequently,
.....and I shudder every time I hear it.
Hi Philip

I see absolutely nothing wrong with the reason why.

CB
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