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Distinguishing Which and Where: How to Use Them in Relative Clauses

The relative pronouns "which" and "where" are commonly used in English, especially in relative clauses. However, they can easily confuse you, making it unclear when to use "which" and when to use "where." Therefore, in this article, PREP will help you understand how to differentiate between "which" and "where" in detail.

I. What is Which?
II. What is Where?
III. Structures for Questions and Relative Clauses Using Which and Where
1. 1. Which
2. 2. Where
IV. Distinguishing Between Which and Where in Relative Clauses
V. Exercises to Distinguish Between Which and Where

I. What is Which?

Essentially, "which" (/wɪtʃ/) is a relative pronoun frequently used in English, meaning "which" or "what." It often appears in questions as an interrogative pronoun at the beginning of a sentence, or in a relative clause.

In relative clauses, "which" is a relative pronoun used to replace nouns that refer to things or objects. It acts as the subject or object in a sentence, so it is followed by a subject or a verb.

For example:

Which color dress do you prefer, blue or green?
Which city do you think is the most beautiful and expensive in your country?
The book I bought yesterday is a mystery novel, which I find very interesting.
The restaurant we went to last night was very expensive, which was a surprise.

Words/Phrases that go with Which:

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example
which is which	used to ask about the difference between two or more things or people, or to express confusion about their identities.	I have two identical twins. Can you tell me which is which?
which way to turn	used to describe a situation where someone is uncertain about what action to take or what direction to follow.	I'm lost in this new city. Which way to turn to find the bus station?
every which way	in many different directions; in a confused manner; all over the place.	The children's toys were scattered every which way after they played.
the extent to which	used to indicate the degree or level of something.	I was surprised by the extent to which he was injured in the accident.
know which side your bread is buttered on	to be aware of what is beneficial for you or how to act in a situation to gain advantages.	He always supports the boss because he knows which side his bread is buttered on.

II. What is Where?

Similar to "which," "where" (/wer/) is a common pronoun in English. However, it differs from "which" in that it means "where" or "at a location." "Where" also appears at the beginning of a question as an interrogative pronoun and can be used in a relative clause.

In relative clauses, the relative pronoun "where" replaces a noun that refers to a place. It is always followed by a clause. Additionally, "where" can serve as a conjunction in a sentence.

Additionally, "where" can serve as a conjunction in sentences.

For example:

Where is the most interesting place you have visited and stayed?
Where do you usually go to relax and slow your stress after work?
I remember a trip to the countryside where I learned how to make pottery.
I had a teddy bear where I could pour out all my secrets.
I live in a small town where everyone is happy and friendly.
Let's meet at the cafe where we first met.

Words/Phrases that go with Where:

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example
where someone is coming from	to understand someone's perspective or background.	I understand where you're coming from, but I still disagree with your point.
where to turn	to be in a difficult situation and not know what to do next.	After losing my job, I didn't know where to turn. I was feeling lost and hopeless.
where has/have something gone	asking about the location or disappearance of someone or something.	Where has my phone gone? I can't find it anywhere.
what/where/how/why the devil	used to express surprise or anger.	What the devil is that noise coming from the kitchen?
be where it's at	to be in or to find a place that is active or interesting.	If you want to be where it's at, you should go to the new club downtown.
from where someone stands	from the viewpoint or perspective of a person.	From where I stand, it seems like a good decision.
where the action is	a place where there is a lot of activity or exciting events occurring.	The new restaurant downtown is where the action is. It's always packed with people.
hit someone where it hurts	to attack or criticize someone at their weak point or vulnerability.	He hit me where it hurts when he said I wasn't good enough.
know where you stand	to understand your situation or the opinions others have about you.	I need to know where I stand with my boss before I ask for a raise.
credit where credit is due	to give recognition or acknowledgment to someone for their achievements or contributions.	Credit where credit is due, he did a great job on that project.
not know where to put yourself	to feel confused or uncertain about what to do in a situation.	I didn't know where to put myself when my boss praised me in front of my colleagues.
hit someone where they live	similar to "hit someone where it hurts," to attack a person's vulnerabilities.	He hit me where it hurts when he said I wasn't good enough.
where there's muck there's brass	where there are difficulties, there will be opportunities.	They say where there's muck there's brass, so I'm going to keep trying even though things are tough right now.
where there's smoke there's fire	if there are signs or rumors of something, there is usually some truth to it.	Where there's smoke there's fire, so I think there's definitely something going on between them.
be plenty more where someone/something came from	there are many more of the same type or kind.	Don't worry about the broken vase. There are plenty more where that came from.
put your money where your mouth is	to take action to support what you say; to back your words with actions.	If you think you're so good, put your money where your mouth is and enter the competition.
where there's a will there's a way	if someone is determined to do something, they will find a way to accomplish it.	Where there's a will there's a way, so don't give up on your dreams.

III. Structures for Questions and Relative Clauses Using Which and Where

Here are the structures that will help you understand how to use "which" and "where" in relative clauses and in questions.

1. Which

Which in questions
Which + N + is/are + adj?	Which city is more expensive and beautiful, London or New York? Which sports are the most popular and most favoured in your country?
Which + N + do/does + S + V?	Which book do you prefer, a mystery or a romance? Which language do you find more difficult to learn, English or Chinese?
Which + do/does + S + V?	Which do you like better, milk tea or coffee? Which do you think is more important, money or happiness?
Which + is/are + N?	Which is your favorite season? Which are the best countries to visit in Southeast Asia?
Which + of	Which of the Prep Application features do you feel are useful for students? Which of your friends lives in Boston?
Which in relative clauses
… N (thing) + which + V + O	The presentation, which covered the new marketing strategy, was very informative. The email, which I sent yesterday, contains important details about the project.
… N (thing) + which + S + V	The report, which was submitted last week, has been approved by the manager. The software, which is still under development, will be released next month.

Note: When the subject of the main clause is the object in the relative clause, the relative pronoun can be omitted from the sentence. For example:

Full Sentence: The report which I read yesterday was very interesting and comprehensive.
Reduced Sentence: The report I read yesterday was very interesting and comprehensive.

2. Where

Where in questions
Structure	Example
Where + do/does + S + V?	Where do you usually have lunch with your boyfriend? Where does the monthly report meeting take place?
Where + is/are + S?	Where is the nearest post office? Where is the new PREP's Head office located?
Where in relative clauses
… N (place) + where + S + V	The restaurant, where we had dinner last night, was excellent but expensive. The village where I grew up is very poor.

IV. Distinguishing Between Which and Where in Relative Clauses

From the definitions and structures provided above, we can easily identify how to distinguish between "which" and "where" in relative clauses as follows:

Distinguishing Between Which and Where in Relative Clauses	Which	Where
Definition	used in questions to ask somebody to be exact about one or more people or things from a limited number	in or to what place or situation
Replace	a noun referring to things or objects	a noun referring to a plac
Followed by	a subject or verb	a clause

Note: When "which" and "where" are both used to indicate location, the following rules apply:

After "where," there is always a clause. For example: The company where I used to work is located in the heart of the city.
"Which" is placed after a preposition (from, on, at, in, etc.), and similarly, after "which," there is also a clause. For example: The project on which we are working is very challenging.

Additionally, it's important to remember that the structure preposition + which often makes the sentence more precise and formal compared to using "where." Therefore, in IELTS or TOEIC Writing exams, it is advisable to prioritize using the preposition + which structure instead of "where." In Speaking tests, however, you can use both flexibly to avoid repetition and maintain engagement during conversation.

V. Exercises to Distinguish Between Which and Where

Try the following exercises to know how to use these two words accurately!

Exercise 1: Choose and fill in Which or Where appropriately.

Thank you for the fine dining restaurant ______ you recommended.
The arena ______ my grandfather used to fight is located in Russia.
The bank ______ she often sends savings has been bankrupt.
We had interesting sightseeing in the park ______ my uncle built.
The mountain ______ the family used to grow fruitions now has a lot of minerals.

Exercise 2: Use Which or Where to connect the following sentences.

We broke a ceramic cup. It belonged to my mom.
Tim dropped a vase. It was new.
Linda loves romance comics. They have happy endings.
Susan lives in a village. There are many paddy fields in her village.
The notebook is on the bookshelf. It belongs to Alex.

Answer keys:

Exercise 1

1. Which

2. Where

3. Where

4. Which

5. where

Exercise 2

We broke a ceramic cup which belonged to my mom.
Tim dropped a vase which was new.
Linda loves romance comics which have happy endings.
Susan lives in a village where there are many paddy fields.
The notebook which belongs to Alex is on the bookshelf.

Hopefully, this exercise has helped you understand when to use where and which, as well as how to accurately distinguish between them. Regular practice will help you retain this knowledge for the long term!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Mr. Tú Phạm is the founder of PREP, a Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of teaching and test preparation experience, he has assisted thousands of students in achieving high scores on the IELTS exam. Additionally, Mr. Tú Phạm serves as a consultant for British Council programs and as a speaker at numerous premier education events, programs, and seminars.