在英语中，where是一个用法比较灵活的重点词汇，其在定语从句、名词性从句及状语从句三大从句中的使用一直是各级各类考试的热点之一。
一、考查where用作关系副词，引导定语从句的用法
Where用作关系副词，引导限制性或非限制性定语从句，修饰表示地点的先行词，在定语从句中充当地点状语。
例如：
A bank is the place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.
银行是在晴天它借给你一把伞，而在下雨天它把伞又收回来的地方。
注意，当先行词是表示地点的名词时，引导定语从句的关系词不一定都使用where，有时要用关系代词that或which引导，这主要根据先行词在从句中担当的成分来决定。当先行词在从句中作状语，表地点时，定语从句用关系副词where引导；而当先行词在从句中作主语、宾语或表语，表地点时，定语从句应用关系代词that或which引导（在限制性定语从句里用作宾语时，that或which可以省略）。例如：
This is the factory where he once worked.
这就是他过去曾经工作过的那家工厂。
This is the factory (that / which) they visited last year.
这就是他们去年参观过的那家工厂。
此外，where引导定语从句时，有时其先行词不是表示具体地点的名词，而是某些表示“抽象地点”的名词，如：point, position, case, situation, system, plan, condition, state, scene, business, stage, job，dream等。（高考热点）
例如：
The Chinese nation has reached a point where its very existence is at stake.
中华民族到了这生死存亡的关头。
There comes a point where you give up.
现在你该放弃了。
You reach a point where medicine can’t help. 你已到了药物无法治疗的地步。
It got to the point where I was so ill I was waiting to die.
病到这个程度，我只能等死了。
This is the point where total cost equals total revenue.
这就是总花费等于总收入的那一点。
The accident happened at the point where the A15 joins the M1.
事故发生在A15与M1交叉的十字路口。
Then I got to the point where I was staying up really late at night to get my work done ．
然后我就到了晚上熬夜完成工作的地步。
高考真题- 2018 浙江
But is there a point where it reaches capacity?
但是，它有没有装不下的时候呢?
四级真题- 2017年 6月
"We are at a point where in much of the developed world the vast majority of young people grew up playing video games, and an increasingly high percentage of adults play these video games too," Werbach says.
“我们正处在许多发达国家绝大多数的年轻人是玩电子游戏长大的时代，而越来越多的成年人也在玩这些游戏，”沃巴赫说。
四级真题- 2016年 12月
This is usually interpreted as a sign that today's parents are trying to manage their children's lives past the point where this behavior is appropriate.
这通常被解释为一种迹象，说明如今的父母正试图以一种有些过火的方式和不当的行为来控制孩子的生活。
高考真题- 2015 北京
He was in a position where he had to force a decision.
他当时的处境是，不得不强行推动作出决定。
He has talked himself into a position where he will have no option but to go.
他通过耍嘴皮子得到了一个职位，现在他只能硬着头皮去了。
It’s put me in a position where I can’t afford to take the job. 这使我陷入一种不能接受此工作的境地。
We’re in a position where we may lose a large sum of money.
我们处于一种我们可能会损失一大笔钱的境地。
We were put into a position where we had either to accept we were less important or fight the government.
我们被置于这样一个境地：要么被迫接受我们低人一等的现实，要么跟政府作斗争。
This procedure should be followed in cases where dishonesty has been alleged.
指控欺诈的案件应遵循本诉讼程序。
He said there were cases where prisoners were tightly bound, often for several days.
他说有时犯人会被紧紧地捆绑起来，往往一捆就是好几天。
Today, we’ll discuss a number of cases where beginners of English fail to use the language properly. 今天，我们将讨论一些英语初学者对英语使用不当的问题。
I can think of many cases where students obviously knew a lot of English words and expressions but couldn’t write a good essay.
我能想出许多学生掌握了大量词汇和短语却不能写出一篇好文章的情况。
In cases where it proves difficult to place a child, the reception centre provides long-term care.
遇到难以安置的孩子，收容中心会提供长期的照顾。
I have known cases where dogs have nipped babies.
我知道有一些狗咬婴儿的事情。
It was yet another case where the human eye outperformed radar.
这是肉眼胜过雷达的又一事例。
In cases where sewage mud is used, expensive chemical fertilizer use can be avoided.
在使用污水泥浆的地区，可以不再使用昂贵的化肥。
六级真题- 2016年 6月 2卷
He got into a situation where it is hard to decide what is wrong and right.
他陷入一种难辨是非的局面。
You could get into a situation where you have to decide immediately.
你可能遇上一种情况，使你不得不立刻作出决定。
You may feel tearful in situations where you feel conspicuous.
觉得自己身处众目睽睽之下时，你可能会有想哭的感觉。
"Many students are coming from a situation where no one around them has the experience of successfully completing higher education, so they are coming in questioning themselves and their college worthiness," Jarrat continued.
贾拉特接着说："许多学生来自这样一个环境：他们周围没有人接受过高等教育,因此他们质疑自己和上大学的价值。"
六级真题- 2015年 12月 1卷
He got into a situation where it is hard to decide what is right and wrong. 他陷入一种难以分辨是非的局面。
If you risk something important, you cause it to be in a dangerous situation where you might lose it. 你如果拿重要的东西去冒险，那你就是将它置于一种可能会失去它的危险境地。
There is a scene where he falls while dancing.
有一个场景是他跳舞的时候摔倒了。
I got to the stage where I wasn't coping any more.
到了这个阶段，我已经无法应付了。
The process of political change in South Africa has reached the stage where it is irreversible.
南非的政治变革已达到不可逆转的地步。
She wants a job where her management skills can be put to good use. 她想找一份能将她的管理技能派上用场的工作。
I don’t want a job where I’m chained to a desk all day. 我不想找一份整天坐在办公桌前的工作。
He was in a job where he felt unappreciated and undervalued.
他以前的工作未让他感到受赏识和重视。
Last year, I spent all my time looking for a job where, without dealing with the public, I could work alone, but still have a team to talk to ．
去年,我花了所有的时间找一份工作,一份我不用和公众打交道,只要一个人工作但仍然有一个团队可以交谈的工作。
高考真题- 2016 北京
Those successful deaf dancers think that dancing is an activity where sight matters more than hearing. 那些失聪的成功舞蹈演员们认为，舞蹈是一种让人看胜过让人听的活动。
在where引导的定语从句中，有时为使表达更清楚，还可以在关系副词where 前加介词from，to 等。
例如：
Soon after getting off his horse, the captain appeared at the second storey windows, from where he could see nothing but trees.
下马不久，上尉就出现在二楼的窗口了。从那里他除了树木什么也没看到。
She climbed up to the top of the hill, from where she could have a good view of the whole town.
她登上山顶，从那里她可以一览全城风光。
China is the birth place of kites, from where kite flying spread to Japan, Korea, Thailand and India.
中国是风筝的故乡，从那里风筝传到日本、朝鲜、泰国和印度。
二、考查where用作从属连词，引导地点状语从句的用法
Where用作从属连词，引导地点状语从句，意为“在（到）……的地方”，相当于in / at / to the place where。
例如：
Today, we will begin where we stopped yesterday so that no point will be left out.
今天，为了不遗漏要点，我们从昨天结束的地方开始。
People began looking across to see where the noise was coming from...
人们开始四下察看，想弄清楚那声响来自何处。
Sit where I can see you.
坐在我能看到你的地方。
Keep her where you can see her.
让她待在你能看得见的地方。
