where在定语从句中可以指代地点，引导一个定语从句。地点分为两种，一种是具体地点。比如intheroom（在房间里）、onthedesk（在桌子上）、underthebed（在床底下）等等。他们都可以具体指代一个看得见，摸得着的地方，容易理解。
另外一种地点我们称之为虚拟地点或抽象地点。这不是一个具体的看得见摸得着的地点，而是一个虚拟出来的地点。比如心里面、一个案件等等。请先看下面例子，然后总结其中规律。
1.Thereweredirtymarksonhertrousers______shehadwipedherhands.
A.whereB.whichC.whenD.that
2.It'shelpfultoputchildreninasituation______theycanseethemselvesdifferently.
A.whereB.whichC.thatD.when
3.Ihavereachedapointinmylife______Iamsupposedtomakedecisionsofmyown.
A.whichB.whereC.howD.why
4.Lifeislikealongrace______wecompetewithotherstogobeyondourselves.
A.whyB.thatC.whatD.where
5.—Whatdoyouthinkofteaching,Bob—Ifinditfunandchallenging.Itisajob______youaredoingsomethingseriousbutinteresting.
A.whenB.thatC.whereD.which
6.Alltheneighborsadmirethisfamily______theparentsaretreatingtheirchildlikeafriend.
A.thatB.whyC.whereD.which
7.Laterinthischaptercaseswillbeintroducedtoreaders______consumercomplaintshaveresultedinchangesinthelaw.
A.whenB.whereC.whichD.who
8.Themediatodaycandrawpublicattentiontosituations________helpisactuallyneeded.
A.whileB.whoseC.whyD.where
9.Thetreatmentwillcontinueuntilthepatientreachesthepoint______hecanwalkcorrectlyandsafely.
A.whereB.whichC.whenD.whose
10.We'rejusttryingtoreachapoint______bothsideswillsitdowntogetherandtalk.
A.thatB.whichC.whenD.where
11.Ebay,AmazonandWal-Martarepopularwebsites______peoplecansellgoodstoeachother.
A.whichB.whereC.whoseD.when
上面所有题目的答案都是where。这些where都是属于虚拟地点，或者抽象地点。不难看出在这些题目里面，先行词（被定语从句）修饰的名词或代词，都不充当主干成分，先行词在从句中都当成地点状语用。