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Question 287 - Difference between using .when・ and .that・ in relative clauses
Dear Graham,

:Text bullying is (1) someone abuses or threatens you by text.;

This question was in Paper II of the 2006 HKCEE. According to the model answer, 'when' should be the answer to (1). Why can・t .that・ be used? When should a 'that' clause be used?

From,
Anny Luk
Dear Anny

Your sentence has a defining clause. .Someone abuses or threatens you by text・ explains what .text bullying・ is. I would call text bullying an event. It happens.

When
We use .when・ with defining clauses which describe an event. Here are more examples.

e.g. Chinese New Year is when our family gets together.
Making cakes is when I get to have fun.
Exams are when I am most stressed.

Chinese New Year, making cakes and exams are events so we use .when・.

That
.That・ is used to define things.

e.g. I like cakes that aren・t too sweet.
I・m looking for a table that can be folded away easily.
Michelle wants a plant that will flower all year round.

Cakes, tables and plants are objects. They do not happen so we do not use .when・.

It is challenging to answer questions that are about clauses!

Regards
Graham
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