Relative Adverbs: Where, When, and Why
B1 · IntermediateRelative ClausesThe city where I was born. The day when we met. The reason why she left. One word instead of preposition + which.
What you'll learn
- 'Where' replaces 'in/at/on which' after a place noun
- 'When' replaces 'in/on/at which' after a time noun
- 'Why' replaces 'for which' after 'the reason'
- Relative adverbs are more natural than preposition + which in everyday English
One word instead of preposition + which
Where, when, and why are relative adverbs. Each one replaces a preposition plus 'which' — a construction that's technically correct but often sounds stiff. Relative adverbs make relative clauses shorter and more natural.
Where — for places
Use 'where' after a noun referring to a place. It replaces 'in which,' 'at which,' or 'on which.'
When — for times
Use 'when' after a noun referring to a time — a day, year, season, or moment. It replaces 'in which,' 'on which,' or 'at which.'
Why — for reasons
Use 'why' after 'the reason.' It replaces 'for which' and is by far the most common way to introduce a reason clause.
Real English
Watch out
Use 'where' for places, not 'when' — 'when' is only for times.
Use 'when' for times like years, days, or seasons — 'where' is only for places.
Use 'where' for places — 'why' only follows 'the reason.'
Real life — Talking about memories
"Do you remember the café where we used to study?"
"Of course — that was the year when we were both broke!"
"Ha, true. That's probably the reason why we studied there so much — it was cheap."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct relative adverb
Choose the relative adverb for place: 'This is the restaurant ___ we had our first date.'
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct relative adverb
Choose the relative adverb for time: 'I remember the day ___ we met.'
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct relative adverb
Choose the relative adverb for reason: 'That's the reason ___ she left early.'
Exercise 4 · Choose the more natural sentence
Choose the more natural sentence.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct relative adverb
Choose the correct relative adverb: 'Summer is the season ___ I feel most productive.'
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct relative adverb
Choose the correct relative adverb: 'Do you know the reason ___ the flight was delayed?'
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence.
Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence.
Exercise 9 · Rewrite using 'where'
Rewrite using 'where': 'This is the park in which we used to play.'
Exercise 10 · Rewrite using 'why'
Rewrite using 'why': 'Nobody knows the reason for which he quit.'
Exercise 11 · Sort into groups
0 / 6 sorted
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
Choose the correct relative adverb: 'That's the house ___ I grew up.'
You learned
- 'Where' replaces 'in/at/on which' after a place noun.
- 'When' replaces 'in/on/at which' after a time noun.
- 'Why' replaces 'for which' after 'the reason.'
- Relative adverbs are shorter and more natural than preposition + which.
Related grammar lessons
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Learn how non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clauses add extra, non-essential information — always with commas, and never with 'that'.
Defining Relative Clauses
Learn how defining (restrictive) relative clauses identify exactly which person or thing you mean — and why they never take commas.
Prepositions in Relative Clauses
Learn the two ways to place a preposition in a relative clause: formal (preposition + whom/which up front) and informal (preposition stranded at the end).
Advanced Relative Clauses
Learn two advanced relative clause patterns: quantifier + relative pronoun (two of whom, most of which) and 'which' referring to a whole preceding clause.