Which and when
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This document discusses the relative pronouns which, when, and where. It provides examples of how to use each pronoun properly based on whether it refers to a thing, time, or place. Which is used to provide more information about a noun, with or without a comma depending on if the clause is essential to identifying the noun. When is used to relate two events, either instantaneous or with one continuous event. Where refers to a place and can be used with "to" to indicate movement to a location.
Which and when
- 1. Sentence Synthesis Which / When / Where
- 2. Which, When, Where Relative pronouns – which, when and where Gives more information about something, sometime or somewhere mentioned The pronouns come immediately after the noun which refers to the thing, time or place being talked about.
- 3. Which (without comma) No comma is needed in front of ‘which’ when the relative clause gives information that helps to identify the thing being spoken about. E.g. The stairs lead to the attic. They are slippery. The stairs which lead to the attic are slippery. The relative clause ‘which lead to the attic’ makes it clear which stairs we are talking about.
- 4. Which (without comma) E.g. The chair was damaged. I threw it away. I threw away the chair which was damaged. The relative clause ‘which was damaged’ makes it clear which chair we are talking about. E.g. The car crashed into me. It belonged to Paul. The car which crashed into me belonged to Paul.
- 5. Which (with a comma) A comma is needed in front of ‘which’ when the relative clause gives further information about something but not to identify it. E.g. He said he had no money. It was not true. He said he had no money, which was not true. The relative clause ‘which was not true’ gives only an extra piece of information.
- 6. Which (with a comma) E.g. I have tasted my aunt’s curry. It is not bad at all. I have tasted my aunt’s curry, which is not bad at all. The relative clause ‘which is not bad at all’ gives only an extra piece of information. E.g. He got a gold medal again a year later. It surprised everybody. He got a gold medal again a year later, which surprised everybody.
- 7. preposition + Which You can have a preposition + ‘which’ E.g. I ate three apples. One was bad. I ate three apples, of which one was bad. E.g. The waves crashed against the rocks. Peter stood on the rocks. The waves crashed against the rocks on which Peter stood.
- 8. When (2 instantaneous events) When is used to talk about the time of event(s). The two events may be immediate. E.g. I blinked my eyes. Peter threw a piece of paper at me. When I blinked my eyes, Peter threw a piece of paper at me.
- 9. When (2 events – 1 continuous and 1 instantaneous) One event may be immediate and the event which is continuous is after ‘when’. E.g. I walked home. I met Jane. I met Jane when I was walking home. OR When I was walking home, I met Jane. Continuous event
- 10. Where (place) E.g. This is the tree. I rested under it. This is the tree where I rested under. E.g. Jane remembered that the tickets could be purchased from there. Jane remembered where to buy the tickets from.
- 11. Where (used with ‘to’) He crossed the road to his mother. She was waiting there. He crossed the road to where his mother was waiting.
- 12. Where (not referring to a place) E.g. We had a few cases yesterday. Pupils’ wallets were stolen. We had a few cases yesterday where pupils’ wallets were stolen.