where or that

Freeguy said:

It was at our college library ____ I borrowed the novel.
A. on which
B. in which
C. that
D. where

Previously, I made up a question and asked you what's the subtle difference between THAT and WHERE. That test was :

Greenland is an island .... I would really like to see.

1. that
2. where
With your help I got the point that "that" can fit here. not where. However after seeing this new test ( in the above) and receiving many different opinions about this one, I got confused. Some native claim it must be WHERE. The others lean against THAT. How can I get the correct answer and how I can learn this topic better.

Thanks

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Freeguy said:

Why not where?

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bhaisahab said:

It's not natural.

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Freeguy said:

Mozart's birthplace and the house ........ he composed 'The Magic Flute' are both now museums.

1. that
2. where

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Freeguy said:

Longman advanced learners' grammar book written by Mark Foley says both of them are correct here. I'm really discombobulated. :-(

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Freeguy said:

Do you know the reason (that) [STRIKE]why[/STRIKE] some native-speaking English teachers go for WHERE in this example?
Do you know [STRIKE]the reason that [/STRIKE]why some native-speaking English teachers go for WHERE in this example?

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Freeguy said:

It was at our college library ____ I borrowed the novel.
A. on which
B. in which
C. that
D. where
after seeing this new test ( in the above) and receiving many different opinions about this one, I got confused. Some native claim it must be WHERE. The others lean against THAT. How can I get the correct answer and how I can learn this topic better.

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sb70012 said:

I have found some examples which may help you solve your confusion.
Let me give you some different examples:

1 - Can you name the country ___ was the birthplace of Mozart?
which (Answer Key)
where
who
whose

I think the reason that we don't choose "where" in test number one is that the word "country" although is a place but describes "birthplace of Mozart". As you see in test number 1 after the blank there is a verb (was) but in test number 2 after the blank there is an object.

2 - Can you name the country ___ Mount Everest can be found?
whose
who
where (Answer Key)
which

I think the reason that we don't choose "which" in test number two is that after the blank there is a subject (Mount Everest).
You should also use your common sense too.

3 - Can you name the country ___ is well known for the tango dance?

where
whose
which (Answer Key)
who

This one looks like test number 1.

4 - Can you name the city ___ Barack Obama was born?

whose
which
where (Answer Key)
who

This one looks like test number 2.

This is the building where my father died.

This is the building which/that my father died.

Note: We shouldn't always rely on the usages of verbs or subjects used after the relative pronouns. Because sometimes they
are tricky and don't follow the above rule mentioned on tests. Like this one:

This is the building which I hope will not fall down soon.

("which" is correct because no event is going to happen inside the building and I only describe the building)
This is the building where I hope will not fall down soon.

("where" is incorrect because the rest of the sentence only describes the building and doesn't say that the "hope" has happened inside the building in addition, it will make no sense too)

(I'm not a teacher. I'm a nonnative English speaker)

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Freeguy said:

Why not where?

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Freeguy said:

Dear sb70012 thanks for your thorough explanation. My confusion is eliminated a bit in this topic. I would like to ask you about this question. What's your reason for omitting WHERE here?

Greenland is an island .... I would really like to see.
1. where
2. that

Do you know a reliable grammar source in relative clause ? I want to improve this section.

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Freeguy said:

Do you the reason that why some native English teachers go for WHERE in this example?

It was at our college library where I borrowed the novel.

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Freeguy said:

Dear sb70012 thanks for your thorough explanation. My confusion is eliminated a bit in this topic. I would like to ask you about this question. What's your reason for omitting WHERE here?

Greenland is an island .... I would really like to see.
1. where
2. that

Click to expand...