判定定语从句关系词的基本原则是将先行词(被定语从句修饰的那个名词)带到从句中去,如果从句中缺少状语就用“介词+关系代词”或关系副词引导。
所以理论上例三可改写成
a)The building is Jiangwan Hotel, from which we can see the Pearl River.
或
b)The building is Jiangwan Hotel, where we can see the Pearl River.
例四可改写成
a)The man lives in a small house,around which there are many trees.
或
b)The man lives in a small house,where there are many trees.
但是在实际应用中,因考虑到b)可能造成句意不明,所以大多不用。而非因为做状语或不做状语。
例一例二中所示句子,应该也不可用where引导。原因在于to the building中to用于表示方向,而不是表示“在”,go to school为固定表达,也不宜分开。
例如我们通常不会说:
This is the man for whom we are looking.
而要说
This is the man (whom) we are looking for.