where引导的地点状语从句与主句的谓语之间存在逻辑语义关系,表示动作发生的地点;而where引导的定语从句则是与where前面的地点(或抽象地点)名词之间存在逻辑语义关系,用来限定名词。

最简单的办法是看where是否有指代先行词

应到定语从句还是状语从句的区别主要可以从以下三点来看：

一、where引导定语从句时, where是关系副词, 在从句中作地点状语, 其前面有表示地点的先行词,

where引导的从句修饰先行词。例如:

The bookshop where I bought this book is not far from here.

This is the house where I lived two years ago.

We will start at the point where we left off.

二、where引导状语从句时, where是从属连词, where引导的从句修饰主句的谓语动词,

where前面没有表示地点的先行词。例如:

Wuhan lies where the Changjiang River and the Han Jiang Rivermeet.

Make a mark where you have any doubts or questions.

I found my books where I had left them.

有时, where引导的地点状语从句兼有抽象条件含义, 可放在主句的前面, 而where引导的定语从句则不能。例如:

Where there is a will, there is a way. 〔谚语〕有志者事竟成。

Where there is water, there is life. 有水的地方就有生命。

三、在有些情况下, where引导的定语从句可转换为where引导的地点状语从句。例如:

A tall building was put up at the place where there used to be a

desert. （＝A tall building was put up where there used to be a

desert. ）在以前曾是沙漠的地方盖起了一幢高楼。

Bam boo grows best in places where it is warm and where it rains

often. ）温暖而多雨的地方最适合于竹子生长。