The words “that” and “which” are both relative pronouns used to introduce a clause that provides additional information about a noun. However, they are used in different ways.
“That” is used to introduce a restrictive clause, which means that the information provided by the clause is essential for the meaning of the sentence. A restrictive clause limits or defines the meaning of the noun that it modifies. Examples of using “that” in sentences are:
- “The book that I borrowed from the library was very interesting.”
- “The car that I bought last week is already in the shop for repairs.”
- “The restaurant that we went to last night was very crowded.”
In each of these examples, the information provided by the clause introduced by “that” is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
On the other hand, “which” is used to introduce a non-restrictive clause, which means that the information provided by the clause is not essential for the meaning of the sentence. A non-restrictive clause adds additional information to the noun it modifies. Examples of using “which” in sentences are:
- “My car, which is blue, is parked outside.”
- “The hotel, which was built in the 1920s, has a lot of historical charm.”
- “The book, which I read last summer, was very long.”
In each of these examples, the clause introduced by “which” adds additional information about the noun, but the sentence would still be complete and meaningful without it.
Here are some additional examples of using “that” and “which” in sentences:
“That” Examples:
- “The phone that I bought yesterday is already broken.”
- “The movie that we saw last night was really funny.”
- “The house that he grew up in was torn down last year.”
- “The restaurant that serves sushi is my favorite.”
- “The book that she recommended was very helpful.”
In each of these examples, the clause introduced by “that” is essential for the meaning of the sentence.
“Which” Examples:
- “The car, which is parked outside, needs to be washed.”
- “The company, which was founded in 1990, is now a global leader in its industry.”
- “The dress, which I bought on sale, was a great find.”
- “The park, which is located near my house, is a great place to go for a walk.”
- “The cake, which was made from scratch, was absolutely delicious.”
In each of these examples, the clause introduced by “which” adds additional information about the noun, but is not essential for the meaning of the sentence.
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