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"There's a thing that I don't know what is" - Is this correct grammar? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago* by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
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How do you say something like that?

"There's a thing for which I don't know what it is" "There's a thing where I don't know what it is" "There's a thing that I don't know what is"

or (the one which I hear people say a lot but sounds awkward:) "There's a thing that/which I don't know what it is"?

To be honest they all sound awkward to me to varying degrees

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[โ€“] 4 points 2 years ago

I don't think I've come across that before, but I'd say it depends on what is meant:

  • I don't know what that thing is.
  • There is a thing, but I don't know what it is.
  • There is a thing such that I don't know what it is. I.e., I do not know what all things are.

There may well be some other ones, but I don't know what they might be.

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