Relative clauses lead by relative adverb

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herbivorie

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My grammar books says that relative adverbs are often omitted.
The following examples are written in the book.

1. Do you remember the days (when) there were no jet planes?

2. I'll show you the shop where I bought those pretty cups.

3. Can you tell me the reason (why) he's so late?

The book doesn't say why they put the parentheses, but I guess "when" in 1 and "why" in 3 can be omitted.

Can't "where" in 2 omitted? Why? (Or, should I just remember the rule that "where" can't be omitted?)
 

MikeNewYork

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The omission of relative pronouns and relative adverbs depends on context. There is no hard and fast rule that applies to all sentences.

My personal preference would be to leave "when" in the first sentence. In the second sentence you can omit "where" if you put "in" at the end. The third is better without "why".

Don't make a rule about "where" from one sentence.
 

herbivorie

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Thank you.

When relative clauses lead by the relative adverb "where", can the "where" be omitted depending on the context even if you put a preposition at the end? Or, is a preposition always necessary to omit "where" in sentences like that?
 

MikeNewYork

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No, a preposition is not always needed.

This is the place where I saw him
This is the place I saw him.
 

herbivorie

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No, a preposition is not always needed.

This is the place where I saw him
This is the place I saw him.

Thank you again.:)

I don't understand the difference between Sentence 2 in my first post and the example you wrote (When "where" can or cannot be omitted without prepositions). :cry:
 

MikeNewYork

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Your original sentence doesn't mean anything without "where" or "in".
 

herbivorie

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A. I'll show you the shop where I bought those pretty cups.
B. This is the place (where) I saw him.

Why does A require "where" or "in", while B doesn't require either?

Does it depends on the noun ("shop" or "place") or verb ("bought" or "saw")?
 

MikeNewYork

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It partly depends on the noun. The noun "place" refers directly to a location. The noun "shop" can be a location, a business, a building, etc. We use these words when they are needed to make the meaning clear. It is a difficult part of English.

In your last sentence, "depends" should be "depend".
 
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