Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to ask questions about the place something is in, or is coming from or going to.
Where did you meet him?...
Where’s Anna?...
Where are we going?...
‘You’ll never believe ~ Julie and I are going.’—‘Where?’
QUEST
2.
You use ~ after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause in which you mention the place in which something is situated or happens.
He knew ~ Henry Carter had gone...
If he’s got something on his mind he knows ~ to find me...
Ernest Brown lives about a dozen blocks from ~ the riots began.
CONJ
•
Where is also a relative pronoun.
...available at the travel agency ~ you book your holiday...
Wanchai boasts the Academy of Performing Arts, ~ everything from Chinese Opera to Shakespeare is performed.
PRON
3.
You use ~ to ask questions about a situation, a stage in something, or an aspect of something.
If they get their way, ~ will it stop?...
It’s not so simple. They’ll have to let the draft board know, and then ~ will we be?
QUEST
4.
You use ~ after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause in which you mention a situation, a stage in something, or an aspect of something.
It’s not hard to see ~ she got her feelings about herself...
She had a feeling she already knew ~ this conversation was going to lead...
I didn’t know ~ to start.
CONJ
•
Where is also a relative pronoun.
...that delicate situation ~ a friend’s confidence can easily be betrayed...
The government is at a stage ~ it is willing to talk to almost anyone.
PRON
5.
You use ~ to introduce a clause that contrasts with the other parts of the sentence.
Sometimes a teacher will be listened to, ~ a parent might not.
= ~as
CONJ