verbs - "Explain the reason why"


Is it natural to say "he explained the reason why he was late"? I suspect that it doesn't make sense.


But I reckon "That is the reason why he's sick" is acceptable with "the reason".


Could it be that the crucial difference lies in the verb we select? The verb explain has as its object a situation, a problem, etc., not a reason.


What do you think?




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