Key Difference

• “Who” is used when referring to people.
• “That” is typically used for things or groups, but it can also refer to people in some cases, especially in informal usage.

Let’s dive into each one and see some examples to clarify!

1. “Who” — For People 👥

The word “who” is used to introduce clauses that provide information about a person or group of people.

• Example:
  • “The teacher who inspired me the most was Mrs. Johnson.”
    • Explanation: “Who” introduces a clause describing “the teacher.”
  • “He is the student who scored the highest on the test.”

In these examples, “who” helps specify or give more details about a person. Whenever you’re talking about a specific person or group, “who” is usually the best choice.

2. “That” — For Things, Animals, and Sometimes People 🏢🐶

The word “that” is primarily used when talking about things, animals, or groups. However, it can also refer to people, especially in informal settings.

• Examples with things or animals:
  • “This is the book that changed my life.”
  • “The dog that won the competition was very friendly.”
• Examples with people (more informal):
  • “The team that won the championship was ecstatic.”
  • “He’s the kind of friend that you can rely on.”

In formal writing, it’s generally better to use “who” when referring to people and “that” for everything else. But in everyday conversation, people often use “that” for both.

Quick Comparison Chart

Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mixing up “who” and “that” with people: In formal settings, always use “who” for people. For example, say, “The woman who helped me,” instead of “The woman that helped me.”
• Avoiding “who” for objects: “Who” is for people, not things. Instead of “The car who broke down,” say, “The car that broke down.”

Practice Time! 📝

Choose the correct word (“who” or “that”) to complete each sentence:

1. The girl ___ won the contest was thrilled.
2. I have a laptop ___ is really fast.
3. He’s the kind of teacher ___ cares deeply about his students.
4. The movie ___ we watched last night was fantastic.

Answers:

1. who
2. that
3. who (though “that” is possible in informal speech)
4. that