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Old 03-01-2004, 02:45 PM
Anonymous
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Default relative clause 'where'

Hello! Everybody!
I am an english student in Australia.
I need someone's help.
I don't understand how to use 'where'.
Here is an example sentenses as follows.
The villa where we stayed had beautiful views of the mountain.

I think that we can use 'which ' instead of 'where'.
But if I use 'which',it must be incorrect probably.
Could anyone teach me how to use the word 'where' as relative clause?

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  #2  
Old 03-01-2004, 07:24 PM
Pete Pete is offline
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Default Re: relative clause 'where'

>I don't understand how to use 'where'.
>Here is an example sen tense as follows.
>The villa where we stayed had beautiful views of the mountain.
>
>I think that we can use 'which ' instead of 'where'.
>But if I use 'which',it must be incorrect probably.
>Could anyone teach me how to use the word 'where' as relative clause?

--No, "which" doesn't work here. I think you can get at the right words for the relative clauses by looking at the corresponding words in sentences that do not use relative clauses:
Where <-> there
Which <-> it

- Look at the villa. We lived there.
So: The villa where we lived...
- ... the villa. We lived in it.
So: The villa in which we lived...
- ... the villa. It was comfortable.
So: ... the villa, which was comfortable,...
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Old 03-02-2004, 02:28 PM
Anonymous
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Default thank you!

Thank you for your quick reply.
Probably I could understand how to use it.
I will make 2 sentences. please check them.

1 The museum where we visited is located near the central station.
2 The office where my friend works is in front of the building.

If it is not correct, please answer again.
Thank you.
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  #4  
Old 03-02-2004, 06:42 PM
Pete Pete is offline
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Default Re: thank you!

1 The museum where we visited is located near the central station. [This is correct, but probably not the most natural. Speaking of a museum, it would be more natural to say "we visited it" than to say "We visited there". Thus, it is more natural to say, "The museum that we visited is located near the central station.]

2 The office where my friend works is in the front of the building. [Ok. I added the word "the", since "in front of the building" usually means on the sidewalk or in the street outside of the building, not a likely place for an office.]
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Old 03-02-2004, 08:56 PM
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Default How anout these?

Hi, Pete
How anout these sentences?
- The museum where he works is located near/around the Central Station. ["Around" doesn't fit here, does it?]
- The office where he works is opposite to the building.
Thanks in advance.
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  #6  
Old 03-03-2004, 02:29 PM
Anonymous
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Default thank you for your explanation

Thank you, pete.
But I am still confused how to use.
I don't understand why it is not the most natural when I use 'where' in No.1 sentences and I wonder why 'that' is suitable for the sentence.

Is 'where' as relative clause used in writing english generally?
Could you give me a 'where' sentence?

Sorry again and thank you.

heroways
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  #7  
Old 03-03-2004, 06:20 PM
Pete Pete is offline
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Default Re: thank you for your explanation

It is not wrong to say "That is the museum where we visited." I think it is a relatively uncommon usage. The verb "visit" is usually transitive; that is, it usually has a direct object. Saying it another way, usually, you visit something. Thus, I think it is more natural to say, "I visited the museum" than to say, "I visited at the museum" or "I visited in the museum". (Those last two use adverbial phrases of location, not direct objects. They are correct, but not the most common use.)

"Where" is a relative adverb. When you say "That is the museum where I visited," you are using "visit" as an intransitive verb. That is not wrong, but it isn't as common as saying "That is the museum that I visited" or "That is the museum which I visited. Both of those use "visit" as a transitive verb, with the relative pronoun being its direct object.

Use "where" in cases that use an adverb of location:
- I lived in that house. <--> That is the house where I lived.
- I saw her there. <--> That is where I saw her.
- He went to the store. <--> Where did he go?
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Old 03-04-2004, 02:30 AM
Anonymous
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Default Help!

Hi, Pete
Sorry! I guess you missed mine.
Please look at mine......

How about these sentences?
- The museum where he works is located near/around the Central Station. ["Around" doesn't fit here, does it?]
- The office where he works is opposite to the building.

Thanks in advance.
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  #9  
Old 03-04-2004, 12:15 PM
Pete Pete is offline
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Default Re: Help!

>Sorry! I guess you missed mine.
>Please look at mine......
>
>How about these sentences?

-- Sorry Fine Tree; here are my comments:

- The museum where he works is located near/around the Central Station. ["Around" doesn't fit here, does it?]
-- This is ok; "around" is sometimes used to mean "near", but it sounds very colloquial. I think it is most often heard in statements like,
- I'm sure he lives somewhere around here.

- The office where he works is opposite to the building.
-- This is ok. It would probably be more usual to say,
- The office where he works is across from the building.
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