1

I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I just didn't know how to connect with the people there. I was afraid for all of my life right up until the day I knew my life was ending. Now, that was when I realized that, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place that you can get a decent meal.

(Transcription of Ready Player One clip starting at 3:06)

In the last clause (starting at 3:41), does the italicized that sound natural?

a. it's also the only place that you can get a decent meal.

How does (a) fare compared with (b) or (c)?

b. it's also the only place where you can get a decent meal.

c. it's also the only place you can get a decent meal.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

All three work well. You can use "where" as the relativizer for a clause that describes a place. And the relativizer can be omitted completely when the relative clause has an explicit subject ("you")

So these are all fine. Using "Where" is perhaps the most formal. Using "that" is slightly more relaxed, and the fact that "reality" isn't a conventional "place" makes "that" a good choice.

Improve this answer
7
  • Thanks. But according to a grammar book, that in This is much better than the place that we stayed last year. is of questionable grammaticality. If you agree with this judgment, how would you distinguish the two cases? (The book says using where instead of that or even omitting that would be grammatical.)
    – listeneva
    Commented Aug 11, 2022 at 8:04
  • The grammar is correct, you may use "where" when referring to a place but it isn't mandatory. Using "where" is slightly more formal. In the example in the question, the speaker is being informal and the "place" is reality, so not a real place. These facts favour the equally grammatical relativiser "that".
    – James K
    Commented Aug 11, 2022 at 8:36
  • Are you saying that if place is a real place, you can't use that instead of where, but that if place is not a real place, you can use that instead of where?
    – listeneva
    Commented Aug 11, 2022 at 9:04
  • 1
    No I'm saying that if place is a real place, you can use "that" or "where", but "where" might be more formal. And if "place" is not actually a place then "that" might be chosen, especially in casual speech.
    – James K
    Commented Aug 11, 2022 at 9:06
  • But in the example cited in the grammar book, place refers to a real place, but the book says using that there is of questionable grammaticality.
    – listeneva
    Commented Aug 11, 2022 at 9:23

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .