8.105 defining clauses

'When' and 'where' can also be used in defining clauses, but only when the clause is preceded by a particular kind of noun.

'When'-clauses must be preceded by the word 'time' or by the name of a period of time such as 'day' or 'year'.

• There had been a time when she thought they were wonderful.
• This is the year when the profits should start.

'Where'-clauses must be preceded by the word 'place' or by the name of a place such as 'room' or 'street'.

• ...the place where they work.
• ...the room where I did my homework.
• ...the street where my grandmother had lived.

Note that place-names such as 'London' are proper nouns and so do not have defining relative clauses after them.

8.106

'Where' can also be used in defining clauses after words such as 'situation' and 'stage'.

• Increasing poverty has led to a situation where the poorest openly admit that they cannot afford to have children.
• In time we reached a stage where we had more black readers than white ones.

8.107

'Why' is used in defining clauses after the word 'reason'.

• That is a major reason why they were such poor countries.

'Whereby' is used in defining clauses after words such as 'arrangement' and 'system'.

• I had worked out a rotating arrangement whereby every person would have a different roommate in each city.
• ...the establishment of a 'closed shop' system in industry, whereby all employees have to be members of trade unions.