Grammar Tips & Articles »

that, which

This Grammar.com article is about that, which — enjoy your reading!


50 sec read
2,633 Views
  Ed Good  —  Grammar Tips
Font size:

Note: We thoroughly discuss the differences between that and which in the eBook Developing a Powerful Writing Style.

Both words introduce adjective clauses, which modify nouns or pronouns.

That is the restrictive or defining relative pronoun, which the nonrestrictive or nondefining. Use that when the words following define or single out the noun being discussed. In the sentence, “The car that was parked had the most damage,” you could not identify the specific car being discussed without the words following that.

Which is used when the words following further describe the noun and the noun has already been identified. In the sentence, “She owned the other car, which was only slightly damaged,” you have already identified the car as the other one. The words “only slightly damaged” simply give more information about this car.

Always set off which clauses with commas.

Example: The book that his professor listed in the syllabus was required reading in his Spanish course, which he took during his first year in college.

Rate this article:

Have a discussion about this article with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "that, which." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/that-which>.

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Browse Grammar.com

    Free Writing Tool:

    Instant
    Grammar Checker

    Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!


    Quiz

    Are you a grammar master?

    »
    Identify the sentence with correct use of the possessive pronoun:
    A Our house is bigger than their.
    B He gave the gift to she.
    C This book is hers, not yours.
    D They are going on vacation with we.

    Improve your writing now:

    Download Grammar eBooks

    It’s now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.