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.
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.
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)
that also does the same job.
Obviously the question is asking for a reason for what the person did, or is about to do. Without a "why", it wouldn't ask that question: "Do you have some reason you....(would like to tell?)" It doesn't ask the same question as "Do you have some reason why you did what you did?" Try it:
Do you have some reason you would like to do this?/ Sounds wrong for asking this question, and I believe is wrong.
Do you have some reason why you would like to do this?/Sounds correct for asking a question of this sort.
Basically, the first(without "why") is better for asking something like "Do you have some reason you would like to give/tell us?" It doesn't ask the person for the reason for doing something.
I think this is quite a subtle issue. I agree with another answer that in OP's specific phrase, "why" is probably better. However, in this similar case...
...I feel it's less important whether "why" is present or not. And insofar as I have an opinion at all, I would rather not include it.
This NGram has over 10,000 hits for "there some reason", of which it's obvious over half are questions that don't continue with "why". Plus 2670 for "there some reason why", which are nearly all questions.
In short, I think the distinction between "reason" and "reason why" largely comes down to individual style, and particular idiomatic usages.
When spoken, both will work well. The why is something that follows naturally after reason, so it can be implied. When you say it, you already know what you want to say, so you don't need all the words that gives sentences structure.
When written, the second is easier to read. The why works as sort of a divider between the two parts of the question. Without the why you have to read the whole sentence before you can grasp its structure and figure out that there is an implied why in it.
The NOAD has the following notes about the reason why:
The construction "the reason why …" has been objected to on the grounds that the subordinate clause should express a statement, using a that-clause, not imply a question with a why-clause: "the reason that I decided not to phone" rather than "the reason why I decided not to phone." "The reason why" has been called a redundancy to be avoided, but it is a mild one, and idiomatic. An objection is also made to the construction "the reason … is because," as in "the reason I didn't phone is because my mother has been ill." The objection is made on the grounds that either because or the reason is redundant; it is better to use the word that instead ("the reason I didn't phone is that …") or rephrase altogether ("I didn't phone because …").
'Reason why' is claimed 'redundant' (see this), but somewhy (pun intended), fewer people explain WHY they consider 'reason why' redundant. At least for me, I was able to find more easily these allegations of redundancy, than a helpful explanation why.
PLEASE tell me how you can perceive the redundancy more easily than following comment, on a website that fails to link its comments; so you must scroll down and locate it manually. I added all bolds. I cite this because substituting why with for what reason depicts the redundancy.
Trevor J Visick on April 17, 2013 5:50 pm
It is my contention that
acceptance of the general definition of ‘why’ as ‘for what reason’ strongly suggests that
‘the reason why’ translates (expands) into ‘the reason for what reason’.
The rationale here escapes me and I make no apology for wanting to scream at those who perpetuate the tendency to insist on its use.
