De relative adverbene where, when og why kan brukes til å koble sammen helsetninger eller leddsetninger. De erstatter den mer formelle strukturen preposisjon + which, som brukes til å introdusere relativsetninger.
| Formell struktur, preposisjon + which | Vanligere struktur som bruker relative adverb |
|---|---|
| That's the restaurant in which we met for the first time. | That's the restaurant where we met for the first time. |
| That picture was taken in the park at which I used to play. | That picture was taken in the park where I used to play. |
| I remember the day on which we first met. | I remember the day when we first met. |
| There was a very hot summer the year in which he was born. | There was a very hot summer the year when he was born. |
| Tell me the reason for which you came home late. | Tell me (the reason) why you came home late. |
| Do you want to know the reason for which he is angry with Sally? | Do you want to know (the reason) why he is angry with Sally? |