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Difference Between: Which vs. That

Which and that refer to a subject we have already introduced. That provides essential information, specifying what makes the subject unique. Which adds non-essential detail. If we remove this, the sentence still makes sense. E.g. The cat that lives next door loves eating fish, which is a rare treat.

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Which or that?

Which

We use which to give non-essential information. This extra detail is placed inside commas or between a comma and a full stop. We can remove it without affecting the main meaning of the sentence. For example:

  • My house is quite big. (basic fact)
  • My house, which is on the other side of town, is quite big. (extra info)

If you can remove this extra information and the sentence still makes sense, then you are usually right to use which.

Examples of which in a sentence:

  • I often visit my parents’ place, which is in London.
  • My new shoes, which have red laces, are by the back door.
  • The trains, which usually run on time, are late today.
That 

We use that to add essential information. This specifies a characteristic of the thing we are talking about, and makes it unique. We do not use commas before or after that. We cannot remove that without changing the main meaning of the sentence. For example:

  • The clock that works is in the living room. (the working clock)

The fact that the clock works is essential to the meaning here. We are talking specifically about one particular working clock, and not the other broken clocks in the house.

Examples of that in a sentence:

  • The film that I was telling you about is on again at the cinema.
  • The train that is standing at platform 6 will be calling at Leeds, Derby…
  • The book that I read last summer is still my favourite.
When deciding whether to use which or that, ask yourself: Can I put this part of the sentence in brackets? If the answer is ‘yes’, then use which because this is likely to be non-essential information. E.g. The new Ford Mustang (, which comes in three colours,) is expensive.

When both are possible

There are some situations when we can use both of these commonly confused words! Take the following two sentences for example:

  • My computer that I use for work is expensive.
  • My computer, which I use for work, is expensive.

These sentences look very similar, but they have different meanings.

In the first sentence, ‘My computer that I use for work’ is a specific computer that this person only uses for work. This information is essential because it shows how this computer is unique (compared to the other computers owned by this person). In other words, it is ‘my work computer’.

In the second sentence, ‘which I use for work’ is just one of many possible uses this computer could have. The focus of this sentence is the fact that the computer is expensive. We can also assume this is the person’s only computer.

Some set expressions already contain the word ‘that’ – think that, say that, sure that, remember that, etc. We can leave out the ‘that’ or include it. E.g. I’m not sure (that) it will rain.

These expressions can create strange double ‘that that’ situations in English. E.g. I remembered that that film had been on TV.

Using commas with which and that

Commas can help us to understand where to use which or that. Remember, when we are speaking English, a short pause usually represents a comma in writing. 

  1. There is often a comma before which and one after the extra information:
  • The new house, which she liked immediately, was on George Street.

However, it is also common for this extra information to come at the end of a sentence. In this case, we only need a comma before which:

  • The film starts at 9pm, which is great because I need to eat first.

The main meaning is: ‘The film starts at 9pm’. The person’s hunger is non-essential information and is added at the end.

  1. We never use commas with that:
  • Steve passed him a glass of water, that he drank immediately. (incorrect)
  • Steve passed him a glass of water, which he drank immediately. (correct)
  • The meeting, that had started ten minutes late, was about sales. (incorrect)
  • The meeting, which had started ten minutes late, was about sales. (correct)
David Foster Wallace gave a funny example of how the word that could be used five times in a row in just one sentence. Here it is: ‘He said that that that that that writer used should really have been a which.’

Exercises: Which or that?

Try these exercises to test your understanding of the differences between which and that. We have left out the commas to make this quiz more difficult. Think about where you would place commas in each sentence. Be careful because sometimes which or that are possible!

  1. I gave him a present _____ he loved.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  2. London _____ has a population of around seven million is the capital of England.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  3. She ripped the dress _____ she bought.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  4. The only thing _____ matters is a good sense of humour.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  5. The factory _____ was on fire yesterday is still ablaze.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  6. Was ‘Stranger Things’ the name of the TV show _____ you were talking about?
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  7. The music ­_____ the DJ was playing made everyone dance.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  8. My favourite cup ____ my aunt gave me has broken.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  9. Will you bring the chocolate cake _____ you baked to the party?
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that
  10. This camera costs just £200 _____ is a bargain.
    a. which
    b. that
    c. which or that

————————————————————————————————————–

Answers:
  1. a
  2. a
  3. b
  4. b
  5. c
  6. b
  7. c
  8. c
  9. b
  10. a
Click here to download this post via our mobile website!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Written by Sam Savage
— ESL Tutor

Sam Savage is a TEFL-qualified English tutor and writer from England. After gaining his TEFL qualification, he started teaching English in Spain in 2009. During this time, he also worked as an editor/translator for art organisations and publications in Madrid. He later returned home and graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a MA in Critical and Creative Writing. In his free time, he enjoys all things cultural, especially writing fiction. Sam is also a published author.

Written by Sam Savage
— ESL Tutor