Dans lequel / laquelle : alternative to où with places (relative pronouns)

Hi Hannah,

en lequel is grammatically correct and is indeed used. Here is an example:

Mon ami, en lequel j'ai confiance, habite à Paris. -- My friend, in whom I trust, lives in Paris.

Does this help? -- Chris (not a native speaker).

This makes sense, thank you. 

Can you also use “en lequel” with objects?

And is there any specific reason why you would use “en lequel” rather than a different preposition?

Thank you for your help :)

Yes, you can use en lequel with objects. Actually, it is mostly used for objects because for persons there exists an alternative construction.

The woman I work for. -- Le femme pour qui je travaille.
The company I work for. -- L'entrepreise pour laquelle je travaille.

You might want to check out this lesson for further details:
https://french.kwiziq.com/my-languages/french/view/738

You're also asking why I would use "en" and not a different preposition? Which preposition you use depends on what you want to say. In principle, any preposition can be combined with laquelle/lequel/lesquels/lesquelles.

L'arbre sous lequel j'étais assis. -- The tree I was sitting under.
Les livres sans lesquels je ne peux pas continuer. -- The books without which I cannot continue.

I hope that helps, -- Chris (not a native speaker).

Bonjour John, Your brain is in the right place, but here the trick is the nuance between "to sit (to be sat)" and "to be (in the process of) sitting", which is more strongly marked in French. If you want to say you're sitting DOWN, you will use the verb "s'asseoir" in Le Présent: "où vous vous asseyez". However, when you want to say you're sat (or sitting, hence confusion), then you will use Le Présent of "être assis(e)" (to be sat): "vous êtes assis". I hope that's helpful! À bientôt !

So the difference is... you're already been seated -- so you're "sitting": etre assis. If you're in the process of sitting, you'd use the reflexive verbs: s'asseoir/s'assoir ?

Bonjour Barb,

The fact that there have been several houses means that we know each one had a specific beginning and ending, therefore we need the passé composé.

The "ongoing" rule for the French imperfect means, in essence, "ongoing without a clear beginning or ending."