What Is The Difference Between Which And That In Relative Clauses

There is no difference in meaning. There is a subtle but important difference between the use of that and which in a sentence and it has to do primarily with relevance.

There Are Two Types Of Relative Clause Defining And Non Defining Here We Take A Look At Defining Relative C Temas De Ingles Gramatica Inglesa Clase De Ingles

They describe the subject in more detail.

What is the difference between which and that in relative clauses. And these are the adjective clauses that we talked about earlier. They both identify objects and non-humans but unlike that which is appropriate in sentences with non-restrictive clauses. The difference between the words that and which and how they are used as relative pronouns depends on whether the clause they belong to is restrictive or nonrestrictive.

In this sentence that is introducing a restrictive relative clause. This is a clause containing essential information about the noun that comes before it. But there is an important difference that you need to remember.

When the relative pronoun is the object of a preposition which is used instead of that for example in which for which about which through which etc. The grammatical explanation is that which introduces a non-essential clause meaning that it doesnt define the noun its describing while that introduces an essential clause meaning that it clarifies exactly which noun the sentence is about. When the relative reference is to a person Swan states.

To understand when to use that or which its important to understand clausesA defining clause also called an essential clause or a restrictive clause gives information essential to the meaning of the sentence. The difference between which and that is a source of great confusion for many students but it doesnt need to be. Whats the Difference in Usage.

By providing us with additional information about something relative clauses save us from having to start a new sentence. The key to understanding proper usage of these words is learning the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses. We use relative pronouns to refer to various entities.

There is a difference in use. The difference between which and that is how they are used. A restrictive clause restricts the noun it modifies to whats defined in the clause.

So which and that are often used at the beginning of clauses that give us more information about the subject. Please see the third example below. Which as a Relative Pronoun.

Who for people which for things and that for people or things. She held out the hand that was hurt. Grammarians often use the terms restrictive and non-restrictive when it comes to relative clauses.

Relative clausesthe sort of clause you use which is blue that is blue which tells us something more about the noun referred to by which or that are of two sorts. Which pronoun it is correct to use depends on various factors including whether they introduce a defining or a non-defining relative clause. A restrictive clause is necessary to the meaning of a sentence.

That is used for essential clauses. But just as we have to consider whether relative clauses are essential restrictive or nonessential nonrestrictive when deciding between which and that we have to ask ourselves the same question when deciding how to punctuate clauses that begin with other relative pronouns including who whom and whose. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses.

Consider this sentence for example. That is often used in identifying relative clauses instead of whowhomwhich. This is the man to whom I wanted to speak and whose name I had forgotten.

That can be used as a subject instead of who but this is quite informal. That is most common as an object or as a subject instead of which. One of the more challenging grammar concepts in the English language is the difference between the words that and whichBoth serve a similar purpose but the meaning of the sentence can change depending on which one you use.

Restrictive Clauses Are Necessary.

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