3

Which one of the two following sentences is correct?

It's a place which they can call home.

Or

It's a place where they can call home.

I'm asking this question because I recently wrote a paragraph in which I used the word "which" but my teacher changed it to "where" and I was wondering why? Why did she did that?

5
  • 2
    Technically, neither is necessary. "It's a place they can call home" is perfectly fine. If you really want to use which/where don't forget that "that" is an option, too.
    – Catija
    Apr 20, 2016 at 17:18
  • 1
    @Catija - I think some might argue that "that" would be a better option. More here.
    – J.R.
    Apr 20, 2016 at 17:20
  • Ok guys I understand I asked this question because I recently wrote a paragraph in which I used the word "which" and my teacher changed it to "where" and I thought why? Why did she changed it? Apr 20, 2016 at 17:34
  • That context is really important to your question because it helps us understand why you're asking. Please edit that information into your question and consider including similar context in future questions!
    – Catija
    Apr 20, 2016 at 17:41
  • @AlanCarmack I like "which" better than "where" and "there" "there" doesn't rhyme in my sentence. Apr 20, 2016 at 17:44

3 Answers 3

9

They mean different things.

It's a place which they can call home.

is the same as

It's a place that they can call home.

It says that they consider the place to be their home.

You can also use

It is a place they can call home

for the same meaning.


On the other hand,

It's a place where they can call home.

means that when they are in the place, then they can call home - e.g. because there is a phone they can use to do it.

1
  • The Marx Brothers film Animal Crackers has a joke about this ambiguity. "'...just a little place that I can call home and tell the wife I won't be there for dinner.' 'I see, you just want a telephone booth.'" youtube.com/watch?v=5eW-NK0aVQg
    – nschneid
    Jun 16, 2022 at 22:10
1

Relative pronouns that and which can be used interchangeably in most circumstances. When used as object relative pronouns, as in the sentence 1, they are often left out of the sentence altogether. Delete "where" from the second, and it'll be correct too - unless you really meant making phone calls, not calling the place their home.

1
  • This is true, but it does not answer the question. Apr 20, 2016 at 17:35
-1

Usually, a place is a where. Which: what one or ones of a group : what particular one or ones — used to indicate what is being shown, pointed to, or mentioned (dictionary)

1
  • Your answer is actually incorrect. I understand how you reason, but it is still incorrect. Please read the accepted answer, for a better explanation.
    – virolino
    Apr 16, 2019 at 8:52

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .