Same question

Question

The year IN WHICH Napoleon was crowned. Dans lequel and I was marked wrong. I don’t agree that où is correct even if it can mean when or where. Two choices seem to be clearly available in these cases according to the notebook info. Advice? Thanks!

Accepted Answer

Hi Alan,
I don't have access to the quiz in question but I am assuming that 'où' was the answer required in Liz's case.
It is true that 'dans lequel' doesn't sound right but you could say 'pendant lequel' instead of 'où'.
Just to recap,
1. with expressions of time like époque, siècle, semaine -
you could use 'où' or 'pendant lequel/laquelle' 
2. with words like 'jour' or 'moment', 'you would normally only use 'où' because of the brevity implied but could use 'au cours duquel' instead in the case of 'jour'.
In everyday speech, 'où' would be more natural.
Hope this helps!

Answer

Hi Liz,
I don’t have the full context but could it have been marked wrong because it should be -
‘L'année dans laquelle ...’   Rather than lequel?

Answer

Hi Cécile,Perhaps it should have been laquelle, but the question is actually whether it's correct to use dans lequel/laquelle for a time period rather than a location. Do you agree with Marie's answer to Jennifer's question below?

Answer

Thanks Cécile. Yes, it should have been dans laquelle.

Answer

HI Alan,I have had a look at Marie's answer to Jennifer and I do agree with her.

Answer

I don't understand, Cécile. I thought that your answer was inconsistent with Marie's. Aren't you saying that "L'année dans laquelle" is correct, but Marie is saying that "Le siècle dans lequel" is wrong, and only où can be used for time periods?