How can I distinguish the use of "since" and "where"?

Question

How can I distinguish the use of "since" and "where"?

These sentences are from my book:
"This is a very powerful generalization since the vast majority of English verbs belong to the regular class."
"The process of assimilating foreign words to the regular pattern is more marked in verbs that in nouns, where foreign plurals are often kept in English, sometimes with an alternative native ending: antenna ^ antennae/antennas."

I think, in the second sentence, I can replace "where" with "since" and get the same result.
Am I right?
And are there any reasons the author chose "where"?
Could you tell me, please?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Takehisa TanakaI think, in the second sentence, I can replace "where" with "since" and get the same result.Am I right?

Not exactly. "where" makes the reference only to nouns, but both verbs and nouns are mentioned right before "where".

The author wants to say that it is in the noun category that foreign plurals are more likely to be kept. It is there that (where) this happens. It's a matter of place.

With "since" you have the meaning "because", which doesn't make as much sense. That would say that verbs are more regularized than nouns because foreign plurals are often kept in English, and that would make no distinction between verbs and nouns.

CJ

Takehisa Tanaka · Answer

I got it.
Thanks, as always.

How can I distinguish the use of "since" and "where"?

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