Where and when in relative clauses: place or time, not an object

The idea

Use where for location and when for time: where we have lunch, when the river froze. These can correspond to in/at which and on/in which, with the preposition chosen by context. For the object cleaned, use the courtyard that we cleaned.

Examples

• This is the courtyard where we have lunch.
• The courtyard that we cleaned is behind the library.
• I remember the afternoon when the river froze.
• The afternoon that I remember best was sunny.
• We found a room where there were three large desks.
• Friday is the day when the market opens late.

Watch out

Do not repeat the same location with where ... there or time with when ... then. A place noun does not automatically require where: which was cleaned needs a subject. In defining time clauses, when can often be omitted: the day we met.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. We found a room ___ there were three desks. (where / which)

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   where

   Where supplies the location; there were three desks is already a complete existential clause. Which cannot fill that location role by itself.

2. Choose the correct option. The courtyard ___ was cleaned yesterday is behind the library. (which / where)

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   which

   Which is the subject of passive was cleaned. Where supplies a location, not the missing subject.

3. Choose the correct option. I remember the afternoon ___ the river froze. (when / which)

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   when

   When links the afternoon to the time the river froze. Which alone does not express that time relationship.

Use it today

Describe one room as the setting of an activity and then as the thing you decorated. Use where in the first description and that/which or an omitted object relative in the second.