When can "when/that" can be omitted?

[ratóncolorao]

Hello,

I would like to know if the relative adverb "when/that" can be omitted in the following sentences. If so, is there any rule to follow in order to know in which cases this particular relative can be omitted?

I'll never forget the year when/that there were many fires in the city.

I'll never forget the day when/that I met her.


Thank you for your help.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello,

I would like to know if the relative adverb "when/that" can be omitted in the following sentences. If so, is there any rule to follow in order to know in which cases this particular relative can be omitted?

I'll never forget the year when/that there were many fires in the city.

I'll never forget the day when/that I met her.


Thank you for your help.

You can omit them from both your sentences.
If you don't want to omit them, I prefer the use of "that" in both.

 

[TheParser]

is there any rule

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Ratoncolorao:

I also like rules.

I found this rule in Mr. Michael Swan's hugely popular and helpful Practical English Grammar (1995 edition, entry -- not page -- #477.3):


"After common nouns referring to time, when is often replaced by that or dropped in an informal style."

His examples:

Come and see us any time you're in town.
Come and see us any time when you're in town.
Come and see us any time that you're in town.


I also found this rule to share with you. It comes from the 1988 edition of Longman English Grammar by the internationally

beloved teacher L. G. Alexander (page 22):

"That is possible (but optional) in place of when, where and why but only [my emphasis] in defining [restrictive]

clauses."

Mr. Alexander gives these examples.

I still remember the summer we had the big drought.

I still remember the summer that we had the big drought.

I still remember the summer when we had the big drought.

I still remember the summer during which we had the big drought.


HAVE A NICE DAY!