高三英语语法和惯用法：where定语从句修饰抽象名词

　　在2007年18套高考英语试卷中，共有14道小题涉及定语从句考点。有趣的是，在这14道题中，有多达5道的考题是考查关系副词where的用法，它们是：

　　1. Where did you get to know her?

　　It was on the farm ___D___ we worked. (山东卷)

　　A. that B. there C. which D. where

　　2. Some pre-school children go to a day-care center, ___D___ they learn simple games and songs. (全国I)

　　A. then B. there C. while D. where

　　3. Those successful deaf dancers think that dancing is an activity ___D___ sight matters more than hearing. (天津卷)

　　A. when B. whose C. which D. where

　　4. Today, well discuss a number of cases ___D___ beginners of English fail to use the language properly. (陕西卷)

　　A. which B. as C. why D. where

　　5. After graduation she reached a point in her career ___D___ she had to decide what to do. (江西卷)

　　A. that B. what C. which D. where

　　以上5道题的答案分别是DDDDD，其中前面两道比较容易，因为它们符合where引导的定语从句用于修饰表示地点的名词这一基本用法。但是，后面3道题则有所不同，因为它们修饰的名词不是具体的地点名词，而是一个抽象名词，即分别是activity, case, point。由于一般的语法书对这一问题很少涉及，所以许多考生对这类考题比较生疏。为帮助同学们熟悉这一语言现象，正确掌握这一知识点，本文拟对when定语从句修饰抽象名词的用法作一归纳。