Key Difference

In general:

• “That” is used for essential information, or “restrictive clauses.” It tells us something critical about the subject.
• “Which” is used for extra, non-essential information, or “non-restrictive clauses.” It adds extra details that aren’t crucial to the meaning.

Let’s Explore Each in More Detail!

1. “That” – Essential Information (Restrictive Clause)

When you use “that”, it introduces information that is essential to understanding what you’re talking about. If you removed this clause, the meaning of the sentence would change.

• Example: “The book that I borrowed from the library was fascinating.”
  • Here, “that I borrowed from the library” tells us which book specifically. If we removed this part, we wouldn’t know which book was fascinating.

How to Spot a “That” Clause:

• Look for information that is necessary to identify the noun it describes.
• No commas are used with “that.”

2. “Which” – Extra Information (Non-Restrictive Clause)

When you use “which”, it introduces extra details. These are nice to know but not essential. You could remove this part, and the sentence would still make sense.

• Example: “The book, which I borrowed from the library, was fascinating.”
  • Here, “which I borrowed from the library” adds extra info. We already know which book we’re talking about (it’s “the book”), so this extra information just tells us a little more.

How to Spot a “Which” Clause:

• Look for information that could be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.
• “Which” clauses are usually separated by commas.

Quick Analogy

Think of “that” like the main ingredient in a recipe—essential for the dish! 🥘
Meanwhile, “which” is like an optional seasoning—it adds flavor, but isn’t necessary. 🌿

More Examples to Deepen Understanding

Practice Time!

Fill in the blanks with either “that” or “which”:

1. I have a laptop ____ is very lightweight and easy to carry.
2. The song ____ was playing reminded me of our last vacation.
3. The house, ____ was painted blue, looked beautiful in the sunlight.
4. He wrote a book ____ became an instant bestseller.

Answers:

1. that
2. that
3. which
4. that