Learn English – “Have some reason you” or “Have some reason why you”

grammaticalityphrasesreason-why

Can the "why" be removed from the phrase "have some reason why you?"

Example:

Do you have some reason you ____?

vs.

Do you have some reason why you ____?

Are these both grammatically correct? What's the difference, if any? Googling I find a lot of both, but I'm still wondering about this.

Best Answer

Well, since this issue's already come up once today, I guess I better elaborate my comment.

As it turns out, why may only be used in a relative clause that modifies the noun reason.
In much the same way, relatives with where must modify a place noun, and relatives with when must modify a time noun. While there are a lot of time and place nouns, there's only one reason noun, and it's reason.

Since the structure is so constrained, and so redundant, something is often deleted,
so that a simple tensed clause following reason implies why.

  • He didn't tell me the reason why he wore a polka-dot dress.
  • He didn't tell me the reason that he wore a polka-dot dress.
  • He didn't tell me the reason he wore a polka-dot dress.

Similarly, leaving out the reason, but leaving in why, produces an embedded question clause
(also known as a free relative clause or a headless relative)

  • He didn't tell me why he wore a polka-dot dress.

that also does the same job.

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