That or Which

What is difference between “that” and “which”?

“That” and “which” are both relative pronouns, but they are used in different ways in sentences, and their usage depends on the context.

That

Use “that” when you need to be specific and point to a particular thing.

“That” is used to introduce a restrictive (essential) clause that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. This type of clause provides essential information about the noun it modifies, and without it, the meaning of the sentence would change.

Example: The car that is parked in the driveway is red.
In this sentence, the restrictive clause “that is parked in the driveway” specifies which car is being referred to. Without this information, the sentence would be incomplete.

Think of “that” as a superhero that comes to rescue when we need to be really specific. It’s like a detective pointing directly at a particular thing, saying, “This one is crucial!”

Example: The book that is on the table is mine.
In this sentence, “that is on the table” is like a spotlight, telling us exactly which book we’re talking about. Remove it, and we’re left wondering which book.

Which

Use “which” when you want to add extra information, but it’s not needed to understand the main idea.

“Which” is used to introduce a non-restrictive (non-essential) clause that provides additional information about the noun it modifies. This type of clause is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, and if removed, the core meaning of the sentence remains intact.

Example: The car, which is parked in the driveway, is red.
In this sentence, the non-restrictive clause “which is parked in the driveway” adds extra information about the car but is not necessary for understanding which car is being referred to.

Think of “which” as a friendly sidekick. It adds extra information, but if it takes a break, the main story still makes sense. It’s like a friend telling you interesting details about something you already know about.

Example: My backpack, which is blue, is in the corner.
Here, “which is blue” adds a cool detail about the backpack, but even if you remove it, we still know it’s your backpack in the corner.

In summary:
Use “that” when you need to pinpoint something specific, like a superhero saving the day.
Use “which” when you want to provide extra, interesting details, like a friendly sidekick adding fun facts to the story.

Remember, both “that” and “which” help make sentences more interesting and clear, just in different ways!