在英语中，where是一个用法比较灵活的重点词汇，其在定语从句、名词性从句及状语从句三大从句中的使用一直是各级各类考试的热点之一。
一、考查where用作关系副词，引导定语从句的用法
Where用作关系副词，引导限制性或非限制性定语从句，修饰表示地点的先行词，在定语从句中充当地点状语。
例如：
A bank is the place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.
银行是在晴天它借给你一把伞，而在下雨天它把伞又收回来的地方。
注意，当先行词是表示地点的名词时，引导定语从句的关系词不一定都使用where，有时要用关系代词that或which引导，这主要根据先行词在从句中担当的成分来决定。当先行词在从句中作状语，表地点时，定语从句用关系副词where引导；而当先行词在从句中作主语、宾语或表语，表地点时，定语从句应用关系代词that或which引导（在限制性定语从句里用作宾语时，that或which可以省略）。例如：
This is the factory where he once worked.
这就是他过去曾经工作过的那家工厂。
This is the factory (that / which) they visited last year.
这就是他们去年参观过的那家工厂。
此外，where引导定语从句时，有时其先行词不是表示具体地点的名词，而是某些表示“抽象地点”的名词，如：point, position, case, situation, system, plan, condition, state, scene, business, stage, job，dream等。（高考热点）
例如：
The Chinese nation has reached a point where its very existence is at stake.
中华民族到了这生死存亡的关头。
There comes a point where you give up.
现在你该放弃了。
You reach a point where medicine can’t help. 你已到了药物无法治疗的地步。It got to the point where I was so ill I was waiting to die.
病到这个程度，我只能等死了。
This is the point where total cost equals total revenue.
这就是总花费等于总收入的那一点。
The accident happened at the point where the A15 joins the M1.
事故发生在A15与M1交叉的十字路口。
Then I got to the point where I was staying up really late at night to get my work done ．
然后我就到了晚上熬夜完成工作的地步。
高考真题- 2018 浙江
But is there a point where it reaches capacity?
但是，它有没有装不下的时候呢?
四级真题- 2017年 6月
"We are at a point where in much of the developed world the vast majority of young people grew up playing video games, and an increasingly high percentage of adults play these video games too," Werbach says.
“我们正处在许多发达国家绝大多数的年轻人是玩电子游戏长大的时代，而越来越多的成年人也在玩这些游戏，”沃巴赫说。
四级真题- 2016年 12月
This is usually interpreted as a sign that today's parents are trying to manage their children's lives past the point where this behavior is appropriate.
这通常被解释为一种迹象，说明如今的父母正试图以一种有些过火的方式和不当的行为来控制孩子的生活。
高考真题- 2015 北京
He was in a position where he had to force a decision.
他当时的处境是，不得不强行推动作出决定。
He has talked himself into a position where he will have no option but to go.
他通过耍嘴皮子得到了一个职位，现在他只能硬着头皮去了。
It’s put me in a position where I can’t afford to take the job. 这使我陷入一种不能接受此工作的境地。
We’re in a position where we may lose a large sum of money.
我们处于一种我们可能会损失一大笔钱的境地。
We were put into a position where we had either to accept we were less important or fight the government.
我们被置于这样一个境地：要么被迫接受我们低人一等的现实，要么跟政府作斗争。
This procedure should be followed in cases where dishonesty has been alleged.
指控欺诈的案件应遵循本诉讼程序。
He said there were cases where prisoners were tightly bound, often for several days.
他说有时犯人会被紧紧地捆绑起来，往往一捆就是好几天。
Today, we’ll discuss a number of cases where beginners of English fail to use the language properly. 今天，我们将讨论一些英语初学者对英语使用不当的问题。
I can think of many cases where students obviously knew a lot of English words and expressions but couldn’t write a good essay.
我能想出许多学生掌握了大量词汇和短语却不能写出一篇好文章的情况。
In cases where it proves difficult to place a child, the reception centre provides long-term care.
遇到难以安置的孩子，收容中心会提供长期的照顾。
I have known cases where dogs have nipped babies.
我知道有一些狗咬婴儿的事情。
It was yet another case where the human eye outperformed radar.
这是肉眼胜过雷达的又一事例。
In cases where sewage mud is used, expensive chemical fertilizer use can be avoided.
在使用污水泥浆的地区，可以不再使用昂贵的化肥。
六级真题- 2016年 6月 2卷
He got into a situation where it is hard to decide what is wrong and right.
他陷入一种难辨是非的局面。
You could get into a situation where you have to decide immediately.
你可能遇上一种情况，使你不得不立刻作出决定。
You may feel tearful in situations where you feel conspicuous.
觉得自己身处众目睽睽之下时，你可能会有想哭的感觉。
"Many students are coming from a situation where no one around them has the experience of successfully completing higher education, so they are coming in questioning themselves and their college worthiness," Jarrat continued.
贾拉特接着说："许多学生来自这样一个环境：他们周围没有人接受过高等教育,因此他们质疑自己和上大学的价值。"
六级真题- 2015年 12月 1卷
He got into a situation where it is hard to decide what is right and wrong. 他陷入一种难以分辨是非的局面。 If you risk something important, you cause it to be in a dangerous situation where you might lose it. 你如果拿重要的东西去冒险，那你就是将它置于一种可能会失去它的危险境地。There is a scene where he falls while dancing.
有一个场景是他跳舞的时候摔倒了。
I got to the stage where I wasn't coping any more.
到了这个阶段，我已经无法应付了。
The process of political change in South Africa has reached the stage where it is irreversible.
南非的政治变革已达到不可逆转的地步。
She wants a job where her management skills can be put to good use. 她想找一份能将她的管理技能派上用场的工作。I don’t want a job where I’m chained to a desk all day. 我不想找一份整天坐在办公桌前的工作。He was in a job where he felt unappreciated and undervalued.
他以前的工作未让他感到受赏识和重视。
Last year, I spent all my time looking for a job where, without dealing with the public, I could work alone, but still have a team to talk to ．
去年,我花了所有的时间找一份工作,一份我不用和公众打交道,只要一个人工作但仍然有一个团队可以交谈的工作。
高考真题- 2016 北京
Those successful deaf dancers think that dancing is an activity where sight matters more than hearing. 那些失聪的成功舞蹈演员们认为，舞蹈是一种让人看胜过让人听的活动。
在where引导的定语从句中，有时为使表达更清楚，还可以在关系副词where 前加介词from，to 等。
例如：
Soon after getting off his horse, the captain appeared at the second storey windows, from where he could see nothing but trees.
下马不久，上尉就出现在二楼的窗口了。从那里他除了树木什么也没看到。
She climbed up to the top of the hill, from where she could have a good view of the whole town.
她登上山顶，从那里她可以一览全城风光。
China is the birth place of kites, from where kite flying spread to Japan, Korea, Thailand and India.
中国是风筝的故乡，从那里风筝传到日本、朝鲜、泰国和印度。
二、考查where用作从属连词，引导地点状语从句的用法
Where用作从属连词，引导地点状语从句，意为“在（到）……的地方”，相当于in / at / to the place where。
例如：
Today, we will begin where we stopped yesterday so that no point will be left out.
今天，为了不遗漏要点，我们从昨天结束的地方开始。
People began looking across to see where the noise was coming from...
人们开始四下察看，想弄清楚那声响来自何处。
Sit where I can see you.
坐在我能看到你的地方。
Keep her where you can see her.
让她待在你能看得见的地方。
此外，从属连词where还可以和there连用，构成固定句型“where there is …, there is…”， 意为“哪里有什么，哪里就有什么”，此时where引导的地点状语从句兼有抽象条件的意义， where引导的从句通常放在主句之前。
例如：
Where there is river, there is a city.
有河流的地方就用城市。
Where there is life, there is hope.
留得青山在,不怕没柴烧。（有生命就有希望。）
Where there is a will, there is a way.
有志者，事竟成。
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
无风不起浪。（事出有因）
Where there is oppression there is resistance.
哪里有压迫哪里就有反抗。
And where there is shale there is likely to be oli.
哪儿有页岩，哪儿就可能有石油。
三、考查where用作连接副词，引导名词性从句的用法
Where用作连接副词，引导名词性从句，在从句中作地点状语。此时的where 相当于the place where…，意为“……的地方”。where用作连接副词，也可以和不定式连用，构成“疑问词+不定式”结构。
1. where引导主语从句
where引导主语从句，该从句在句中作主语。
例如：
Where we shall have the meeting hasn’t been decided yet.
我们将在什么地方开会还没有决定下来。
Where he got it isn’t clear.
还不清楚他是在哪里弄到它的。
有时为了保持句子平衡，避免句子出现“头重脚轻”现象，往往使用it形式主语放在句首，而将where引导的主语从句后置。
例如：
It’s really no business of yours where I spent my summer holiday.
我们在哪里度暑假确实与你无关。
It’s not decided where the graduates will be sent to work.
这些毕业生将分配到什么地方去工作还没有做出决定。
2. where引导宾语从句
where引导宾语从句时，既可以用于及物动词（短语）后作宾语，也可以用于介词后作宾语。
例如
I’d like to know where you were born.
我想知道你是在哪里出生的。
Upon graduation he asked to be sent to where he is most needed.
刚一毕业，他就要求自己被派往最需要他的地方去。
3. where引导表语从句
where引导表语从句时，既可以用于系动词be后作表语，也可以用于其它系动词后作表语。另外，where引导表语从句时，与关系副词where引导的定语从句可以转换。
如：
Go and get your coat. It’s where you left it.
去拿你的大衣，它就在你原先放的地方。
This is where (= the place where) the First National Congress took place.
这就是第一次全国代表大会召开的地方。
注意，where引导表语从句时，有时表示抽象含义，可有灵活翻译。
如：
That’s where we differ.
这就是我们的分歧所在。
That’s just where you are mistaken.
这就是你弄错的地方。
That was where he failed.
这就是他失败之处。
4. where引导同位语从句
where 引导同位词从句时，表示对前面的抽象名词，如fact, news, idea, suggestion, message, word等给予更加具体详细的解释说明。
如：
Nicholas had no idea where he was.
尼古拉斯不知道他在哪里。
高考真题- 2015 北京
They had only a vague idea where the place was.
他们只是大概知道那个地方的位置。
I have no idea where she lives.
我不知道她住在哪里。
The proposal had been put forward, and then arose the question where we were to get the proofs needed.
建议被提了出来，然后就出现了这个问题：我们将在哪儿获得所需要的证据。
5. where和动词不定式连用，构成“疑问词+不定式”结构
如：
You will be instructed where to go as soon as the plane is ready.
飞机一准备好就会通知你去何处。
You have to know where to stand for a good viewpoint.
你得知道站在哪里观察角度比较理想。
I didn't know where to start.
我不知该从哪儿着手。
They can suggest where to buy one.
他们可以推荐去哪里购买。
If he's got something on his mind he knows where to find me
如果他有什么想法的话，他知道去哪儿能找到我。
Frank didn't like having the cops know where to find him.
弗兰克不想让警察知道去哪里可以找到他。
Richard was marshalling the doctors and nurses, showing them where to go.
理查德正在召集医护人员，向他们说明去哪里。
The newly-weds differed in their idea of where to spend their honeymoon.
这对新婚夫妇在去哪里度蜜月的问题上有不同的想法。
I was wondering where to spend the weekend.
我正在考虑在何处度周末。
I haven’t decided yet where to go for our summer holiday.
我还没有决定去哪里了度暑假。
What I want to know is where to begin.
我想知道的是从哪里开始。
四、where引导的定语从句、地点状语从句及名词性从句的区别
区别where引导的三大从句，主要是看where引导的从句在句中所充当的成分。当其作状语时，则是状语从句，句中无先行词；当其作定语修饰名词，则是定语从句，句中必须有一个表示地点的名词作先行词；当其作主语时，是主语从句；在连系动词后，是表语从句；在行为动词或介词后，是宾语从句；在名词后，且对该名词起着解释说明作用，则是同位语从句。但不管是where引导的何种从句，where在从句中均作地点状语。
The book has helped me greatly in my daily communication, especially at work where a good impression is a must. (2015，高考)
这本书对我的日常生活帮助很大沟通，尤其是在必须给人留下好印象的方面。
Nowadays people are more concerned about the environment where they live. (2014, 高考)
现在人们更关心他们居住的环境。
Many countries are now setting up national parks where animals and plants can be protected. (2014,高考)
许多国家现在正在建立国家公园，保护动植物。
He wrote a letter where he explained what had happened in the accident. (2014, 高考)
他写了一封信，解释了事故中发生的事情。
