[Grammar] "where" as a relative adverb

[outofdejavu]

Dear All:

What follows is quoted out from
Ancient Amazon Actually Highly Urbanized: Scientific American

-----------------

But decades later, a city of sorts—actually a series of settlements connected by roads—has been found at the headwaters of the Xingu River where Fawcett went missing in an area previously buried beneath the dense foliage in what is now Xingu National Park.

-----------------

where = the Xingu River? or
= the headwaters of the Xingu River? or
= either of the above?


Thank you.

[2006]

Originally Posted by outofdejavu

Dear All:

What follows is quoted out from
Ancient Amazon Actually Highly Urbanized: Scientific American

-----------------

But decades later, a city of sorts—actually a series of settlements connected by roads—has been found at the headwaters of the Xingu River where Fawcett went missing in an area previously buried beneath the dense foliage in what is now Xingu National Park.

-----------------

where = the Xingu River? or
= the headwaters of the Xingu River? or
= either of the above?

"the headwaters" is not the same as the river.
Thank you.

2006

[outofdejavu]

Is there no possibility of "where = the Xingu River"?

[2006]

Originally Posted by outofdejavu

Is there no possibility of "where = the Xingu River"?

No possibility, because it is talking about "the headwaters of the Xingu River", not the Xingu River itself.

[outofdejavu]

Learn a lesson~
Thank you.

[topractise]

Hi dear 2006

Do you mean that we can only understand what that "where" is by reading the whole passage?

[2006]

Originally Posted by topractise

Hi dear 2006

Do you mean that we can only understand what that "where" is by reading the whole passage?

The "whole passage" is just one sentence, albeit a rather long one.
Of course one, especially learners of English, should read the whole sentence even if you are just trying to understand one particular part of it.
But to answer outofdejavu's original question, the crucial part of the sentence is "has been found at the headwaters of the Xingu River where Fawcett went missing".

[topractise]

Originally Posted by 2006

The "whole passage" is just one sentence, albeit a rather long one.
Of course one, especially learners of English, should read the whole sentence even if you are just trying to understand one particular part of it.
But to answer outofdejavu's original question, the crucial part of the sentence is "has been found at the headwaters of the Xingu River where Fawcett went missing".

Dear 2006

So......

you mean any sentence like "the xx of the oo where .......!#$%" has only one solution - something about xx, right?

If it is true,
can I also say that any sentence like "the xx of the oo which .......!#$%" has only one solution - something about xx?

[2006]

Originally Posted by topractise

Dear 2006

So......

you mean any sentence like "the xx of the oo where .......!#$%" has only one solution - something about xx, right?

If it is true,
can I also say that any sentence like "the xx of the oo which .......!#$%" has only one solution - something about xx?

I am not sure I understand your question, especially the part about "has only one solution".

What I can say is that in a noun phrase like "the headwaters of the Xingu River", the headwaters is what is being talked about, not the Xingu River.

Is this what you are asking?

[topractise]

Originally Posted by 2006

I am not sure I understand your question, especially the part about "has only one solution".

What I can say is that in a noun phrase like "the headwaters of the Xingu River", the headwaters is what is being talked about, not the Xingu River.

Is this what you are asking?

yes, I geuss I get it.

"the headwaters of the Xingu River where....."

that "where" modifies "the headwaters"


but, how can I do if I want to use that "where" to modify "the Xingu River" ?