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, why는 바로 이 지점에서 여러분의 영어를 한 단계 업그레이드시켜 줄 핵심 도구입니다.저곳은 내가 일하는 건물이야(That is the building where I work)라는 하나의 완성도 높은 문장으로 합쳐주는 것이죠.내가 일하는 건물처럼 수식하는 말이 명사 앞에 오지만, 영어는 명사를 먼저 말하고 그 뒤에
where 등을 붙여 뒤에서 앞으로 수식하는 후치 수식(Post-modification) 구조를 가집니다. 이 구조적 차이를 이해하고 익숙해지는 것이 유창함으로 가는 첫걸음입니다. 오늘 이 시간을 통해 관계부사의 원리부터 한국인 학습자가 가장 자주 틀리는 실수까지 완벽하게 정리해 보겠습니다.which)'라는 다소 길고 격식적인 표현을 한 단어로 압축한 형태입니다. 이 치환 원리를 이해하면 관계부사의 본질을 꿰뚫을 수 있습니다.where: 장소를 나타내는in which,at which,on which등을 대신합니다.when: 시간을 나타내는in which,on which,at which등을 대신합니다.why: 이유를 나타내는for which를 대신합니다.
who, which, that) 뒤에는 주어나 목적어가 빠진 불완전한 문장이 오는 것과 가장 큰 차이점이죠. 이는 관계부사 자체가 '부사'의 성격을 띠고 있어, 문장 안에서 필수 성분(주어, 목적어, 보어) 역할을 하지 않기 때문입니다.- 한국어: 내가 태어난 도시 (동사 '태어나다' + 어미 '~ㄴ')
- 영어: The city where I was born (명사 'The city' + 관계부사 'where')
,)의 사용 여부를 결정짓는 중요한 요소입니다.- 1제한적 용법 (Defining Clauses)
- 선행사가 구체적으로 누구/무엇인지 '정의'해 줍니다. 이 절이 없으면 문장의 의미가 불분명해집니다.
- 콤마를 사용하지 않습니다.
- 예:
I remember the day when we first met.(우리가 처음 만난 '그날'을 기억해.)
- 1계속적 용법 (Non-defining Clauses)
- 선행사가 이미 무엇인지 명확하며, 단순히 '추가 정보'를 제공합니다.
- 앞뒤에 콤마를 찍어 주절과 분리합니다.
where와when은 가능하지만,why는 계속적 용법으로 쓰이지 않습니다.- 예:
I moved to Seoul, where I lived for ten years.(나는 서울로 이사했는데, 거기서 10년 동안 살았어.)
where | 장소 (Place) | The cafe where we study is quiet. | Gangnam, where many offices are located, is busy. |when | 시간 (Time) | Summer is the season when it rains a lot. | In 2020, when the pandemic started, life changed. |why | 이유 (Reason) | Tell me the reason why you are late. | (사용하지 않음) |where (장소 및 추상적 상황)where를 사용합니다.- 물리적 장소:
This is the library where I spent my university days.(여기가 내 대학 시절을 보낸 도서관이야.) - 추상적 장소/상황:
We have reached a point where we need to make a decision.(우리는 결정을 내려야 하는 지점에 도달했습니다.) - 디지털 공간:
This is a website where you can find free resources.(여기는 무료 자료를 찾을 수 있는 웹사이트야.)
when (시간과 시기)- 특정 시간:
Do you remember the moment when the goal was scored?(골이 들어갔던 그 순간을 기억하니?) - 시대/시기:
The 90s was a decade when K-pop started to grow.(90년대는 K-pop이 성장하기 시작한 10년이었어.)
why (이유)the reason이라는 선행사 뒤에만 옵니다. 현대 영어(회화)에서는 the reason을 생략하고 why만 쓰거나, 반대로 why를 생략하고 the reason만 쓰는 경우가 아주 많습니다.- 전체 문장:
The reason why I called you is to ask a favor.(내가 너한테 전화한 이유는 부탁을 하나 하기 위해서야.) - 생략형 (자연스러운 회화):
That's why I'm so tired today.(그게 내가 오늘 너무 피곤한 이유야. -the reason생략)
where와 which의 혼동 (가장 빈번한 실수!)which와 where를 엄격히 구분해야 합니다.- 잘못된 예:
The city where I like is very beautiful.(X) - 옳은 예:
The city which I like is very beautiful.(O) ->like의 목적어가 빠져 있으므로 관계대명사which필요. - 옳은 예:
The city where I live is very beautiful.(O) ->I live는 완전한 문장이므로 관계부사where필요. - Tip: 뒤에 오는 문장이 완전한지(주어, 목적어가 다 있는지) 확인하세요!
- 잘못된 예:
This is the house where I live in.(X) - 옳은 예:
This is the house where I live.(O) - 옳은 예:
This is the house which I live in.(O) -> 관계대명사를 쓸 때는 전치사가 필요합니다.
where 대신 that을 사용하는 경우when이나 why 대신 that을 쓰는 것은 허용되지만, where를 that으로 바꾸는 것은 매우 어색하거나 문법적으로 틀린 것으로 간주됩니다.- 어색한 예:
The place that I work is nearby.(△) - 자연스러운 예:
The place where I work is nearby.(O)
the office where I work | the office in which I work | the office (which) I work in |the day when we met | the day on which we met | the day (that) we met |the reason why he left | the reason for which he left | the reason (that) he left |- Formal (
in which): 논문, 뉴스, 법률 문서 등에서 주로 사용됩니다. 일상 대화에서 쓰면 너무 딱딱하게 들릴 수 있습니다. - Natural (
where/when): 일상적인 대화와 비즈니스 이메일에서 가장 선호되는 형태입니다. - Casual: 관계대명사나 전치사를 생략하거나 문장 끝으로 보내는 형태는 친구 사이나 가벼운 대화에서 흔히 쓰입니다.
where, when, why를 생략할 수 있나요?- A:
when과why는 선행사가 일반적인 명사(the time,the day,the reason)일 때 자주 생략됩니다. 하지만where는 선행사가the place인 경우를 제외하고는 생략하지 않는 것이 원칙입니다. 특히 계속적 용법(콤마가 있는 경우)에서는 절대 생략할 수 없습니다.
how는 왜 관계부사 설명에서 빠졌나요?- A:
how도 관계부사이지만, 다른 부사들과 달리 선행사인the way와 절대 함께 쓸 수 없기 때문입니다.the way how(X)는 틀린 표현이며,the way만 쓰거나how만 써야 합니다. 반면where,when,why는 선행사와 함께 쓰는 것이 기본이므로 별도로 학습하는 것이 좋습니다.
where 뒤에 주어가 없는 문장이 올 수 있나요?- A: 아니요, 절대 안 됩니다.
where뒤에 바로 동사가 나온다면 그것은 장소를 '명사(사물)'로 취급하고 있다는 뜻이므로 관계대명사which나that을 써야 합니다. (예:The building which stands there- 저기 서 있는 건물)
the cafe where I study), 혹은 배달 음식을 기다리는 시간(the time when the delivery arrives) 등 일상의 순간들을 관계부사로 표현해 보는 것이 가장 좋은 연습이 될 것입니다.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
| 관계부사 | 수식 대상 | 예시 | 격식 있는 표현 (대체) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
where
|
장소 (Location)
|
This is the city where I grew up.
|
in which / at which
|
|
when
|
시간 (Moment/Period)
|
Do you remember the day when we met?
|
on which / at which
|
|
why
|
이유 (Motive/Cause)
|
That's the reason why he left.
|
for which
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
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)
관계부사: 아이디어 연결하기
Where (장소)
- The house where I grew up
- The city where we met
When (시간)
- The day when we first met
- The year when it happened
Why (이유)
- The reason why she left
- That's why I'm here
관계부사 vs 관계대명사
올바른 관계부사 선택하기
설명하려는 대상이 '장소'인가요?
설명하려는 대상이 '시간'인가요?
설명하려는 대상이 '이유'인가요?
관계부사가 대체하는 표현들
Where는 다음을 대체...
- • at which
- • in which
- • to which
- • at that place
When은 다음을 대체...
- • at which
- • on which
- • in which
- • at that time
Why는 다음을 대체...
- • for which
- • for that reason
수준별 예문
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.
혼동하기 쉬운
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.
자주 하는 실수
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.
문장 패턴
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.
장소, 시간, 이유만 기억하세요!
This is the spot where I park.
전치사 중복은 금물!
The park where I play.
'the reason'은 생략 가능해요
자연스러운 리듬감을 익히세요
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.
발음
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.
암기하기
기억법
Remember the '3 Ws': Where for Space, When for Time, Why for Reason.
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
Write three sentences about your favorite city using 'where', 'when', and 'why' in under 2 minutes.
문화 노트
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.
대화 시작하기
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?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
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
연습 문제
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.
어느 문장이 올바른가요?
다음 문장을 영어로 번역하세요: '저곳이 그 영화가 촬영된 도시예요.'
단어를 조합해 문장을 만드세요:
명사와 알맞은 관계부사를 연결하세요:
She couldn't recall the exact circumstances ___ she made that promise.
Is this the restaurant why you recommended?
관계부사가 올바르게 사용된 문장은?
다음 문장을 번역하세요: '우리가 만난 날은 화요일이었어요.'
단어를 순서대로 배열하세요:
문장을 완성하기 위해 알맞은 절을 연결하세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (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
1
2
3
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
관련 동영상
Related Grammar Rules
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Overview 친구에게 정말 멋진 피자집에 대해 말해주려다가 문장 중간에 막힌 적 있나요? 있잖아요, 거기. 도우 끝에 꿀을 발라주...
격식 관계절 (in which, to whom)
### Overview 영어를 모국어로 사용하는 환경에서 전문적인 수준의 의사소통을 지향하는 학습자에게 있어, '전치사 + 관계대명사...
문장 줄이기: 축약된 관계절
### Overview 영어를 모국어처럼 구사하고 싶은 B2 레벨의 학습자라면, 문장을 더 간결하고 세련되게 만드는 기술인 '축약된 관...
Whose: 소유를 나타내기
### Overview 영어에서 `whose`는 **소유격 관계대명사(possessive relative pronoun)**로 불리며, 문장 내에서 두 가지 정보를...
