Context: Where vs in which

[fcomorales]

Hello!

Reading the solution for the excercise 3 of chapter 2 in the SC Guide (4th edition), I came up with a doubt about the relative pronouns where and in which.

"Rise is used only in contexts where there is no direct object".

Context is usually used as a "metaphorical" place, so I think that "in which" should be used to modify it. However, this sentence may be an exception since context is used as an indicator of the parts of a sentence.

What would be the best pronoun in this case?

Thank you!
Francisco

[abemartin87]

Where cannot be used to modify "metaphorical" place, such as condition, situation, case, circumstances, or arrangement.

"Where" can only modify physical locations!!


Ex1. "The atom is in an unstable condition where it will undoubtedly explode."
This example is wrong. The underlined portion ought to be "in which", because "where" is incorrectly trying to modify the current state of the atom, which is "unstable".

Ex2. "The happiness John experienced yesterday was one where it could not be expressed."

Here in this example "where" is being used modify "happiness", which is a condition/state.

Ex3. "The White House situation room is a place where the President and his immediate cabinet can meet, during times of emeregency, to discuss prevailing matters.

Do you see? In this sentence "Where" is modifying an actual, physical, place in the White House. Here "Where" works correctly.


The same goes with "When". "When" can only refer to points of time.

Ex4. "His studies in archaeology, led John to propose an idea of a time when dinosaurs were around before mammals."

In this example, it would seem "when" is being used to modify "time", one in which dinosaurs roamed the earth, but it is actually trying to modify "an idea", which is not a point in time!!! "an idea" is a concept!! Hence, the sentence ought to read, "...... John proposed an idea in which dinosaurs were around before mammals."

[tim]

good catch, Francisco. clearly in this case our writers did not pay as much attention to correct grammar in their explanation as they did in the text of the questions themselves.. :)

[fcomorales]

Hi Tim,
I am glad to hear that. I hope this could help you to improve your book! Asking about this issue also helped me because I think I will not forget how to preperly use where and in which!

[tim]

Glad to hear it!