sohrabkalra, "when" and "where" are not pronouns, they are either adverbs, or conjunctions (depending on usage).

To answer what we understand your question to be, though: Yes.

(We say "what we understand your question to be" because "chinese culture" and "mythology" and "golden days" are not "metaphors.")

This answer probably gave you nothing, but there it is.

EssaySnark

Hi ,

Thanks ! My bad there to describe them as pronouns!

But the essence of my question was that can i use "where" to describe something which is not a real PLACE
For example :
which one is more appropriate out of the below two
1) Indian mythology,where idol worship is common, is one of the oldest mythologies
2) Indian mythology,in which idol worship is common,is one of the oldest mythologies

Dont you think 2 sounds more appropriate?

Hey sohrabkalra --

If you're talking use in everyday English, either is fine.

If you're talking specific to a GMAT problem... we're no experts but we'd guess that "where" is nonstandard. The second one with "in which" would seem safer to us!

We're not goin' off any official GMAT standards here, just our own knowledge of the language, so if you get a more definitive answer, would love to see it!!

EssaySnark

1) Indian mythology,where idol worship is common, is one of the oldest mythologies
-- Indian mythology is not a place -- In GMAT it is most likely incorrect. Look for answer choices.
2) Indian mythology,in which idol worship is common,is one of the oldest mythologies
-- This is correct

Yep thats what i thought so what would you pick out of below

In burgeous culture,where running machines is considered less noble than to be a lawyer , parents make extra effort to ensure that their kid becomes a lawyer

A)Same as above
B)In burgeous culture, which considers it less noble to run a machine than to be a lawyer,...
C)None!

B, right ?

Well... this is a rather funky example.... we're guessing you mean "bourgeois"?

Regardless, B is NOT correct - a "culture" cannot "consider" anything as a "culture" is an inanimate object.

And again, we don't want to speculate how this might work on the GMAT as this doesn't seem to be a GMAT problem. But in standard spoken English - in the American culture - we'd say "where" in this sentence.

EssaySnark

heres an example of when not referring to actual time ! Is this considered incorrect ? And when i say that i mean according the standards of GMAT Written english and not spoken english


a)Scoliosis,a condition when the abnormal curvature of spine throws the body out of line, can cause heart and lung problems as well as physical deformity!