Adverbes Relatifs (où, quand, pourquoi)
where pour les lieux, when pour le temps, et why pour les raisons.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Relative adverbs connect a clause to a noun (place, time, or reason) to provide more detail without repeating the noun.
- Use `where` for places: 'The cafe where we met.' (max 20 words)
- Use `when` for times: 'The day when it rained.'
- Use `why` for reasons: 'The reason why I called.'
Overview
where, when et why — constitue une étape charnière pour tout apprenant atteignant le niveau B2. Si tu souhaites passer d'un anglais fonctionnel à un anglais fluide et nuancé, c'est ici que tout se joue. Ces petits mots agissent comme une véritable colle grammaticale : ils permettent de fusionner deux idées distinctes en une seule phrase complexe et élégante.I remember the day. We met then. (ce qui sonne un peu scolaire), tu diras I remember the day when we met. C'est cette capacité à structurer l'information qui définit la maîtrise de l'anglais à un niveau intermédiaire supérieur.where), le temps (when) et la cause (why).in which ou at which. Les adverbes relatifs sont les alternatives naturelles et dynamiques de ces structures.which. En gros, l'adverbe relatif absorbe la préposition pour simplifier la phrase.whereremplacein which,at whichouon which. Il sert à décrire un lieu.- Formel :
The building in which I work is old. - Naturel :
The building where I work is old.
whenremplaceon which,in whichouat which. Il sert à décrire un moment.- Formel :
The year in which the company was founded was 2010. - Naturel :
The year when the company was founded was 2010.
whyremplace exclusivementfor which. Il est presque toujours utilisé après le nomthe reason.- Formel :
The reason for which he left is unknown. - Naturel :
The reason why he left is unknown.
where, when et why soient appelés « adverbes relatifs », la proposition qu'ils introduisent (la *relative clause*) fonctionne comme un adjectif. Pourquoi ? Parce que l'ensemble de la proposition (where I work, when we met) sert à qualifier un nom (l'antécédent).The restaurant where we ate was great, toute la partie where we ate agit comme un adjectif pour préciser de quel restaurant tu parles. C'est pour cela qu'on parle parfois de *adjectival clauses*.I remember (principale) + the time (nom) + when (adverbe) + we (sujet) + traveled (verbe) + to Japan.- 1Defining Relative Clauses (Restrictives) : Elles sont essentielles pour identifier de quoi on parle. Si on les enlève, la phrase perd son sens ou devient trop vague. On n'utilise jamais de virgules ici.
This is the office where I keep my files.(Si j'enlève la suite, on ne sait pas de quel bureau il s'agit).
- 1Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Non-restrictives) : Elles apportent une information supplémentaire, un « bonus », sur un nom qui est déjà clairement identifié. Les virgules sont obligatoires.
Paris, where I spent my last vacation, is beautiful in spring.(Paris est déjà identifié, l'info sur les vacances est un ajout).
where | The shop where I buy my bread is closed. | My hometown, where life is slow, is very quiet. |when | I hate Mondays when I have to wake up early. | In 2020, when the world stopped, I learned to cook. |why | Tell me the reason why you are upset. | (Rarement utilisé en non-définitive) |the reason devant why ou même supprimer when dans certains cas.That's why I'm here.(Au lieu deThat's the reason why I'm here).The day I met her...(Au lieu deThe day when I met her...).
where.where pour les lieux (physiques et abstraits)country, city, street, room.This is the café where we usually meet.
where pour des lieux abstraits ou des situations. En anglais, on considère une situation, une étape ou un système comme un « lieu » métaphorique.- Une situation :
We are in a situation where nobody wants to compromise. - Une étape / Un point :
He reached a point in his life where he needed a change. - Un support numérique :
This is the website where I found the information. - Un domaine d'étude :
Biology is a field where new discoveries are made every day.
when pour les moments et les occasionswhen dès que l'antécédent est une unité de temps (day, year, hour, moment) ou une période de la vie (childhood, adolescence, era).Do you remember the moment when the lights went out?The 1960s was an era when social norms changed rapidly.
the day where.... En anglais, un jour est un temps, pas un espace. Utilise donc systématiquement when.why pour la causewhy est très spécifique. Il ne s'utilise quasiment qu'après le mot reason. C'est un outil de précision pour expliquer une motivation ou une cause.The main reason why the project failed was a lack of communication.I don't understand the reason why she is so angry.
why tout seul pour simplifier : That's why I didn't call you. C'est très efficace et très naturel.where et whichwhere indique que le lieu est le cadre d'une action. which indique que le lieu est l'objet ou le sujet de la phrase.- Incorrect :
The city where is very beautiful.(Ici, la ville est le sujet du verbe *is*). - Correct :
The city which is very beautiful. - Correct :
The city where I live is very beautiful.(Ici, la ville est le cadre de l'action d'habiter).
where et when contiennent déjà une préposition cachée. Si tu rajoutes une préposition à la fin de ta proposition, tu fais un doublon.- Incorrect :
The house where I live in. - Correct :
The house where I live. - Correct (formel) :
The house in which I live.
The day where- Incorrect :
I remember the day where we met. - Correct :
I remember the day when we met.
that à la place de wherethat peut souvent remplacer when ou why dans un langage informel (The day that we met), il ne peut jamais remplacer where.- Incorrect :
The hotel that we stayed was expensive. - Correct :
The hotel where we stayed was expensive.
where, when, why) | Courant / Naturel | The office where I work is near the station. |which | Très formel / Écrit | The office in which I work is near the station. |which / that + Preposition at the end | Informel / Oral | The office that I work in is near the station. |why vs for which :There are several factors for which no explanation has been found.I don't know the reason why the client is unhappy.whereby :whereby. C'est un cousin de where qui signifie « par lequel » ou « grâce auquel ». On l'utilise surtout dans des contextes juridiques ou techniques.They signed a contract whereby both parties agree to share profits.
that à la place de when ?The year when I was born ou The year that I was born. Les deux sont parfaits. Par contre, si tu as des virgules, tu dois garder when.why ?the reason est un nom très général. Si tu dis juste I know the reason, ton interlocuteur va attendre la suite. La clause introduite par why est donc presque toujours « restrictive » (indispensable au sens), et par définition, on ne met pas de virgule dans ce cas.where peut s'utiliser pour un livre ou un film ?That's the scene where the hero discovers the truth.It's a book where the narrator talks directly to the reader.
which ou where pour un lieu ?there) ? Si oui, utilise where.The city (I live there) -> The city where I live.The city (I like it / not there) -> The city which I like.
where est pour l'espace, when pour le temps et why pour la raison, et que tu feras attention à ne pas doubler les prépositions, ton anglais gagnera instantanément en élégance et en précision. C'est exactement ce qu'on attend d'un élève au niveau B2 !Relative Adverb Sentence Structure
| Noun Type | Relative Adverb | Subject | Verb Phrase | Full Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Place
|
where
|
I
|
work
|
The office where I work is nearby.
|
|
Time
|
when
|
she
|
arrived
|
The day when she arrived was cold.
|
|
Reason
|
why
|
they
|
left
|
The reason why they left is unknown.
|
|
Place (Abstract)
|
where
|
we
|
stand
|
The point where we stand is critical.
|
|
Time (Specific)
|
when
|
the bell
|
rings
|
The moment when the bell rings...
|
Omission of Relative Adverbs (Informal)
| Full Form | Short Form (Omitted) | Naturalness |
|---|---|---|
|
The reason why I'm here
|
The reason I'm here
|
Very Natural
|
|
The day when we met
|
The day we met
|
Very Natural
|
|
The place where I live
|
The place I live
|
Common (but 'where' is safer)
|
Meanings
Relative adverbs introduce relative clauses that modify a noun. They function as a replacement for a preposition + 'which' (e.g., 'in which', 'at which', 'for which').
Place (Where)
Used to modify a noun referring to a location or physical space.
“That is the house where I grew up.”
“We visited the park where the festival is held.”
Time (When)
Used to modify a noun referring to a specific time, date, or period.
“I'll never forget the summer when we traveled to Italy.”
“There are times when I just want to be alone.”
Reason (Why)
Used specifically after the noun 'reason' to explain a cause or motive.
“The reason why she left is still a mystery.”
“I don't know the reason why the flight was canceled.”
Reference Table
| Adverbe Relatif | Se rapporte à | Exemple | Alternative (Formel) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
where
|
Lieu (emplacement)
|
This is the city where I grew up.
|
in which / at which
|
|
when
|
Temps (moment/période)
|
Do you remember the day when we met?
|
on which / at which
|
|
why
|
Raison (motif/cause)
|
That's the reason why he left.
|
for which
|
Spectre de formalité
The reason for which the meeting was postponed remains unclear. (Professional/Office)
The reason why the meeting was postponed is unclear. (Professional/Office)
The reason the meeting was moved is a mystery. (Professional/Office)
No clue why the meeting got canned. (Professional/Office)
Adverbes Relatifs : Connecter les Idées
Where (Lieu)
- The house where I grew up
- The city where we met
When (Temps)
- The day when we first met
- The year when it happened
Why (Raison)
- The reason why she left
- That's why I'm here
Adverbes Relatifs vs. Pronoms Relatifs
Choisir le bon Adverbe Relatif
La proposition décrit-elle un Lieu ?
La proposition décrit-elle un Temps ?
La proposition décrit-elle une Raison ?
Ce que les Adverbes Relatifs remplacent
Where remplace...
- • at which
- • in which
- • to which
- • at that place
When remplace...
- • at which
- • on which
- • in which
- • at that time
Why remplace...
- • for which
- • for that reason
Exemples par niveau
This is the park where I play.
This is the park where I play.
I like the time when we have dinner.
I like the time when we have dinner.
That is the shop where I buy bread.
That is the shop where I buy bread.
Monday is the day when I go to school.
Monday is the day when I go to school.
Do you know the reason why she is sad?
Do you know the reason why she is sad?
I remember the year when I moved here.
I remember the year when I moved here.
This is the hospital where my brother works.
This is the hospital where my brother works.
Is there a place where we can sit down?
Is there a place where we can sit down?
The town where I grew up has changed a lot.
The town where I grew up has changed a lot.
I'll never forget the moment when I won the race.
I'll never forget the moment when I won the race.
The reason why I didn't call was that I lost my phone.
The reason why I didn't call was that I lost my phone.
We need to find a time when everyone is free.
We need to find a time when everyone is free.
It was a situation where nobody knew what to do.
It was a situation where nobody knew what to do.
There are several reasons why this project might fail.
There are several reasons why this project might fail.
The era when the internet was invented changed everything.
The era when the internet was invented changed everything.
I am looking for a job where I can use my languages.
I am looking for a job where I can use my languages.
The precise moment when the market crashed is still debated.
The precise moment when the market crashed is still debated.
We have reached a stage where further investment is required.
We have reached a stage where further investment is required.
The underlying reason why the policy failed was lack of data.
The underlying reason why the policy failed was lack of data.
This is a case where the law is not entirely clear.
This is a case where the law is not entirely clear.
The epoch when such architectural feats were possible has long passed.
The epoch when such architectural feats were possible has long passed.
One can hardly fathom the reason why such a decision was reached.
One can hardly fathom the reason why such a decision was reached.
The digital landscape is a realm where privacy is increasingly scarce.
The digital landscape is a realm where privacy is increasingly scarce.
There comes a point in every negotiation when silence is the best tool.
There comes a point in every negotiation when silence is the best tool.
Facile à confondre
Learners often use 'which' for places without a preposition, or 'where' with a preposition.
In time clauses, 'that' can sometimes replace 'when', but not always.
Learners use 'because' as a relative adverb.
Erreurs courantes
The house where I live in.
The house where I live.
I like the time which we play.
I like the time when we play.
The reason because I am late.
The reason why I am late.
The city where is big.
The city which is big.
That is the place when I saw him.
That is the place where I saw him.
The day where we met.
The day when we met.
The reason why is because...
The reason is that...
The situation which I found myself.
The situation where I found myself.
The year that I was born in it.
The year when I was born.
The reason why for he left.
The reason why he left.
Structures de phrases
I remember the time when ___.
This is the place where ___.
The reason why ___ is ___.
We are looking for a situation where ___.
Real World Usage
Could you tell me about a time when you handled a conflict?
Go to the corner where the big bank is.
The city where my heart belongs.
This was an era when social norms were shifting rapidly.
I want to be in a relationship where we trust each other.
The reason why the prime minister resigned is still being debated.
Pense 'Lieu, Temps, Raison'
The house where I live is blue.
Attention aux prépositions en trop
The park where I play is beautiful.
Zappe 'the reason' à l'oral
Écoute le rythme naturel
Tell me when you are ready.
Smart Tips
Use 'when' to link the date to an event without needing 'in which'.
Immediately swap 'because' for 'why' or 'that'.
Use 'where' to introduce the conditions of that situation.
Drop the 'when' or 'why' entirely after the noun.
Prononciation
Weak form of 'when'
In fast speech, 'when' is often unstressed and sounds like /wən/.
Linking 'where' and 'I'
When 'where' is followed by 'I', the 'r' is often pronounced to link the words (in rhotic and some non-rhotic accents).
Relative Clause Fall
The house where I ↘live...
The pitch usually drops slightly at the end of the relative clause before continuing the main sentence.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember the '3 Ws': Where for Space, When for Time, Why for Reason.
Association visuelle
Imagine a map (Where), a clock (When), and a question mark (Why) all connected by bridges to a main building (the Noun).
Rhyme
Where for the place, When for the day, Why for the reason you went away.
Story
I went to a house WHERE I saw a ghost. It was a night WHEN the moon was full. That is the reason WHY I never went back.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences about your favorite city using 'where', 'when', and 'why' in under 2 minutes.
Notes culturelles
Using 'where' for abstract concepts (like 'a relationship where...') is very common in modern therapy and self-help culture.
In formal British academic writing, 'in which' is often preferred over 'where' for non-physical locations.
Sometimes 'where' is used in place of 'that' in very informal regional dialects, though this is non-standard.
Relative adverbs evolved from interrogative adverbs (question words) in Old and Middle English.
Amorces de conversation
Can you describe the house where you grew up?
Is there a specific time of year when you feel most productive?
Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.
What are some reasons why people choose to move to a different country?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
This is the restaurant ___ we celebrated our anniversary.
Find and fix the mistake:
Tuesday is the day where we have our team meeting.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesThat is the restaurant ___ we had our first date.
Find and fix the mistake:
I don't know the reason because he is angry.
There are days ___ I feel like I can achieve anything.
This is the house. I was born in it.
The situation where I am in is very difficult.
In a case ___ the rules are broken, there will be a fine.
A: Why are you so late? B: The reason ___ I'm late is that my car broke down.
never / I / the / when / will / day / forget / we / met
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesDo you recall the year ___ we all got new phones?
This is the cafe which I like to read in.
Quelle phrase est correcte ?
Traduis en anglais : 'C'est la ville où le film a été tourné.'
Remets dans l'ordre :
Associe les noms aux bons adverbes :
She couldn't recall the exact circumstances ___ she made that promise.
Is this the restaurant why you recommended?
Laquelle de ces phrases utilise correctement l'adverbe ?
Traduis : 'Le jour où nous nous sommes rencontrés était un mardi.'
Remets les mots dans l'ordre :
Associe les débuts et fins de phrases :
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes, in many cases 'that' can replace 'when' in restrictive relative clauses, e.g., 'The day that we met'. However, 'when' is more precise.
No, at a B2 level you should use 'where' for abstract places like 'situations', 'stages', or 'points in a discussion'.
Because 'where' already means 'in which'. Saying 'where... in' is like saying 'in which... in', which is redundant.
It is much less common to omit 'where'. While you can say 'The place I live', it often sounds better to keep 'where'.
'In which' is more formal and used in academic writing. 'Where' is neutral and used in everyday speech.
Yes, but it then becomes a nominal relative clause, e.g., 'Why he left is a mystery.' As a relative adverb, it almost always follows 'reason'.
Yes, but it is archaic. It means 'from where'. You will only see it in old literature or the Bible.
Only if it is a non-defining clause (adding extra info), e.g., 'I live in London, where the weather is often grey.'
Scaffolded Practice
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4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
donde / cuando
Spanish 'donde' can be used with prepositions like 'en donde', whereas English 'where' usually stands alone.
où
French uses one word ('où') for both place and time, while English distinguishes between 'where' and 'when'.
wo / wann
German relative time markers change based on tense, unlike English 'when'.
Relative clause + noun (no adverb)
Japanese has no equivalent to 'where/when/why' connectors; the word order alone does the work.
haythu / 'indama
Arabic relative clauses often repeat the object/place at the end, which is a major error in English.
...de + noun
Chinese uses a single particle 'de' for all relative relationships, regardless of place, time, or person.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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Pronoms relatifs en anglais : WHO, WHICH, THAT, WHERE, WHOSE
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