That vs Which | Correct Use & Examples
Use that with restrictive clauses, which can’t be omitted without changing the meaning of a sentence (e.g., “The poem that I wrote won first place”). Use which with nonrestrictive clauses, which add information about a noun but aren’t necessary to the sentence (e.g., “My dog, which is a poodle, loves to play fetch.”).
| That in restrictive clauses | Which in nonrestrictive clauses |
|---|---|
| The book that I borrowed from her is worn. | The hotel, which is one of my favorites, is getting renovated. |
| The movie that was just released is number one at the box office. | Our picnic, which was scheduled for 5 p.m., will be postponed because of the rain. |
| The car that has the funny bumper sticker is mine. | The Empire State Building, which is located in New York, is a popular tourist destination. |
When to use that
In American English, “that” (not “which”) introduces restrictive clauses, a type of adjective clause that cannot be omitted from the sentence without changing its meaning, causing ambiguity, or affecting its coherency.
For example, in the sentence “The pair of shoes that Sam bought yesterday are too small,” the restrictive clause “that Sam bought yesterday” indicates that Sam has multiple pairs of shoes, but specifically the ones that he bought yesterday are too small.
Without the restrictive clause, the sentence would read, “The pair of shoes are too small,” leaving it up to interpretation which pair of shoes are being discussed.
Keep in mind that “that” can sometimes be removed from restrictive clauses without changing the meaning of the sentence (e.g., “The pair of shoes Sam bought yesterday are too small”).
Do you know the name of the dance team that performed here last night?
The dress that she wore to the party was stunning.
Commas are not required before or after restrictive clauses.
- The coffee shop that I go to every morning is shutting down.
- The coffee shop, that I go to every morning, is shutting down.
Please note that restrictive clauses can also be introduced by “who,” “whose,” and “whom.”
When to use which
“Which” can introduce nonrestrictive clauses, which are clauses that provide further information about a noun or pronoun but aren’t essential to the meaning or structure of the sentence. In other words, nonrestrictive clauses can be removed without altering the main point of the sentence.
For example, in the sentence “The trip, which I go on every year, has been canceled,” the non-restrictive clause “which I go on every year” can be removed without drastically altering the meaning of the sentence: “The trip has been canceled.”
The internship, which provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, fell through.
Thomas planned a winter camping trip, which is supposed to strengthen our survival skills.
Nonrestrictive clauses are always set off with commas. If in the middle of a sentence, a comma is required before and after the clause.
- The phone, which was supposed to be water-resistant, got damaged.
- The phone which was supposed to be water-resistant got damaged.
- I’m traveling to Daytona Beach, which is a four-hour drive away from where I live.
- I’m traveling to Daytona Beach which is a four-hour drive away from where I live.
Nonrestrictive clauses can also be introduced by “who,” “whose,” and “whom.”
- The book which I lost was my favorite.
- The book that I lost was my favorite.
In American English, “which” is only used in nonrestrictive clauses.
- The salon that she founded is growing rapidly.
- The salon which she founded is growing rapidly.
Frequently asked questions about that vs. which
- What part of speech is that?
-
“That” functions as a determiner, demonstrative pronoun, relative pronoun, conjunction, and adverb.
When used as a relative pronoun or conjunction, “that” introduces dependent clauses (e.g., “He was grateful that I was able to pick him up early”).
- Is “which” a subordinating conjunction?
-
No, which is classified as a relative pronoun. Although a relative clause is a type of dependent clause, a relative pronoun is not the same as a subordinating conjunction because it acts as a subject/object or refers back to a noun, whereas a subordinating conjunction is a linking device.
It is also used as an interrogative word (e.g., “Which shirt looks best?”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using relative pronouns and interrogative words correctly.
- Is “that” a relative pronoun?
-
Yes, “that” is one of the four most common relative pronouns in English (“that,” “which,” “who,” and “whom”).
Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses, which give more information about a noun or noun phrase (e.g., “the shirt that Dylan is wearing” or “the book that is on the table”).
In other contexts, “that” is also used as an adverb, conjunction, or determiner.
