<p>^Sorry for my terrible Asian accent.</p>
<p>I was looking in barrons 2400 in the english section it says that "according to the conventions of standard written english, <em>where</em> is not used correctly here:</p>
<p>1) Is this the picnic table where you supposedly left your compact disc player?
2)This is the scene where the tornado rips through the unsuspecting village.</p>
<p>for #1, is it because the table is a object, not a location? I dont understand WHY where is technically incorrect in #2 at all .</p>
<p>Can you explain it please? Sorry if it seems obvious to you 
The writing part is the hardest for me in the SAT.</p>
<p>A table is an object and a location. I left my keys on the table.</p>
<p>^ okay but then i am still confused as to why they are both wrong.</p>
<p>1) Logically, one leaves a CD player on a picnic table, not where a picnic table is. To avoid ambiguity, use the prepositional phrase “on which.” </p>
<p>2) “A scene” is not a place. Use the prepositional phrase “in which” instead of “where.”</p>
<p>okay thanks :D</p>
<p>your explanation for #2 must be written in invisible ink hehe.</p>
<p>oops sorry i guess i just couldn’t see the explanation for #2 yesterday. now i can!
Thanks IceQube :)</p>
<p>^I was editing yesterday ;). </p>
<p>Grammar Girl has an excellent explanation. Check it out for some added insight. </p>
<p>[?Where</a>? Versus ?In Which? : Grammar Girl :: Quick and Dirty Tips](<a href=“http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/where-versus-in-whichadverbs.aspx]?Where”>http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/where-versus-in-whichadverbs.aspx)</p>
<p>**In summary … **</p>
<p>She says that using a preposition + which over where is more formal. How is it more formal? </p>
<p>Using a preposition + which is more specific than just saying “where.” Example below. </p>
<p>*Is this the box where you set your book? </p>
<p>vs.</p>
<p>Is this the box in which you set your book?
Is this the box on which you set your book?
Is this the box by which you set your book? *</p>