Practice
Relative adverbs: use and examples
I remember the café where we met. The word where does more than ask a question here. It connects café to the information that follows.
Use where, when, and why to add a relative clause about a place, time, or reason, and choose a relative pronoun when the clause needs a person or thing.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
relative adverb /ˈrelətɪv ˈædvɜːrb/
The short answer
Use where after a place, when after a time, and why after a reason. Each word introduces a clause that gives more information about the noun before it. If the new clause needs a person or thing as its subject or object, use a relative pronoun such as who, which, or that instead.
That was the year when my family moved to Canada.
Why it works: When links the noun year to the time information in the relative clause.
5 more examples
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This is the neighborhood where my grandparents grew up.
Where adds information about the neighborhood as a place.
Not this:This is the neighbor
who helpedmy grandparents. What changes: Who is needed because neighbor is a person and the person is the subject of helped. -
Friday is the day when we send the weekly report.
When connects day to a repeated action at that time.
Not this:Friday is the day
that works bestfor the team. What changes: That introduces a clause about the day itself, not about an action at that time. -
No one understood the reason why the flight was canceled.
Why introduces information that explains the reason.
Not this:No one understood the message
that the airline sent. What changes: That refers to the message, which is the object of sent. -
The library is a quiet place where I can study after work.
The relative clause tells the reader what happens in that place.
Not this:The library has a quiet room
that I useafter work. What changes: That refers to room, the thing used by the speaker. -
I still remember the moment when the lights went out.
When identifies what happened at the named moment.
Not this:I still remember the moment
that changed our plans. What changes: That is the subject of changed, so a relative pronoun is appropriate.
Read the full guide
First find the noun that the extra clause describes. Then ask what kind of information the clause gives: a place, a time, or a reason. That question usually leads you to the right relative adverb.
Start with the noun before the clause
A relative adverb follows the noun it describes. Read up to that noun first. The next clause should give extra information about its place, time, or reason.
We visited the park where the concert was held.
Where the concert was held describes park, so the clause gives information about a place.
Which noun does where describe in the sentence: I know the street where they live?
It describes street.
Use where for a place
Where can introduce a relative clause after a physical place or a place treated as a setting. The clause needs a subject and a verb after where.
The office where I work closes at six.
The office is the place. I work is the complete clause that gives more information about it.
Choose the word: This is the room ___ we keep the supplies.
Use where: This is the room where we keep the supplies.
Use when for a time
Use when after a word that names a time, such as day, month, period, or moment. It tells the reader what happened or happens at that time.
Summer is the season when the town receives most visitors.
When the town receives most visitors explains the season in time.
Choose the word: I remember the afternoon ___ we got the news.
Use when: I remember the afternoon when we got the news.
Use why for a reason
Why normally follows reason. The following clause explains the reason instead of asking a question.
She explained the reason why the meeting was postponed.
Why the meeting was postponed gives the explanation for the reason.
Choose the word: Do you know the reason ___ the door is locked?
Use why: Do you know the reason why the door is locked?
Know when a pronoun is needed
Where, when, and why carry meanings of place, time, and reason. Use who, which, or that when the word must refer directly to a person or thing inside the clause.
I met the designer who created the poster.
Who is the subject of created. A place or time word would not do that job.
Choose the word: The book ___ is on the desk belongs to Elena.
Use that or which: The book that is on the desk belongs to Elena.
Before you go
Remember this
Relative adverbs attach extra information to a noun. Choose where for a place, when for a time, and why for a reason. Check the job of the word in the relative clause before you choose a relative adverb or a relative pronoun.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Relative adverbs: use and examples"
Can where refer to an online place?
Yes, where can describe a website, page, or other setting when the clause tells the reader what happens there. Make sure the noun is being treated as the place or setting for the action.
This is the neighborhood where my grandparents grew up.
Is when always necessary after a time word?
No. In many relative clauses, the time word can be omitted when the meaning remains clear. Keep when when it helps the reader see the time relationship.
This is the neighbor who helped my grandparents.
Can I omit why after reason?
Often, yes. Both the reason why she left and the reason she left can be used. Choose the version that is clearest and most natural in the sentence.
Friday is the day when we send the weekly report.
Why cannot where replace who?
Where gives a place relationship. Who refers to a person and can take a grammatical role inside the relative clause, such as the subject of a verb.
Friday is the day that works best for the team.
How can I check a relative clause before I write it?
Find the noun before the clause and name its relationship to the new information. Use a place, time, or reason connector only when that is the relationship. Otherwise, check whether a pronoun for a person or thing is needed.
No one understood the reason why the flight was canceled.