That vs. Which

In the English language, we have three main relative pronouns: who, which, that. Here, we will discuss the similarities and differences between the last two.

What Do They Have in Common?

If we want to combine two clauses (a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence) together, we can use a relative pronoun. In the English language, we have three main relative pronouns:

	Used for
Who	Humans
Which	Non-humans
That	Humans and Non-humans

'That' for People or Things

The relative pronoun 'that' is very flexible and you can use it for people or things.

The dress that you bought me fits me perfectly.

The man that I saw was very friendly.

'Which' Only for Things

The relative pronoun 'which' can only be used with non-human objects.

The dress, which you bought me, fits me perfectly.

'That' or 'Which'?

'Which' and 'that' can both refer to non-human things, but the meaning of the sentence can change depending on which one you use.

How Do We Choose?

If you want to know how to decide between choosing 'which' or 'that', first you need to know about the 'essential' and 'non-essential' clauses.

Essential Clause

An essential clause (also called a restrictive clause or defining clause) means that the information in the clause is essential or necessary for us to understand the preceding noun.

Non-essential Clause

A non-essential clause (also called a nonrestrictive clause or non-defining clause) is not essential to the meaning of the whole sentence. You can easily omit it and your sentence would still be meaningful.

How to Choose between 'That' and 'Which'

To choose between 'that' and 'which', remember this golden rule:
For an essential clause, use 'that.'
For a non-essential clause, use 'which.'

When to Use 'That'?

We use 'that' in essential clauses. Here's some examples:

Alina's necklace that looks like a heart was a valentine gift from her boyfriend.

Here, we understand that Alina has several necklaces, so it's essential to distinguish the one that looks like a heart from others.

Boots that are used for mountain climbing are usually more expensive.

In this sentence, since not all boots are used for mountain climbing, we use that to indicate the essential information.

Pay Attention!

Pay attention that the essential clause does not always come immediately after the noun.

The book in the top shelf that has a leather cover is the one I was looking for.

Here, it means that there are multiple books in shelves, thus it's essential to mention which book.

When to Use 'Which'?

We use 'Which' in nonessential clauses (the information in the clause is not necessary to understanding the noun in the sentence). Here are some examples:

Mathew's bedroom, which is painted light blue, has a bed, a desk, two chairs, and a lamp.

In this sentence, the information about Mathew's bedroom being light blue is not essential to the sentence. Mathew only has one bedroom, so the extra information doesn't contribute to identifying it. Therefore, we use 'which.'

The Use of Commas

Another important difference between essential and non-essential clauses is the use of commas. We use commas in non-essential clauses to separate them from the rest of the sentence.

Sally's favorite restaurant, which has great view of the city center, is located in King of Prussia Mall.

Again, the information about the view of the restaurant is not essential for understanding the rest of the sentence. We can omit the non-essential clause and still understand the sentence perfectly.

What Happens When We Replace 'That' with 'Which'?

Now let us look at some of the earlier examples and see how the meaning can change if we replace 'that' with 'which' and vice versa.
First, let us replace 'that' with 'which':

Alina's necklace that looks like a heart was a valentine gift from her boyfriend.

Alina's necklace, which looks like a heart, was a valentine gift from her boyfriend.

In this sentence, changing to which causes the sentence to imply that Alina only has one necklace.

Boots that are used for mountain climbing are usually more expensive.

Boots, which are used for mountain climbing, are usually more expensive.

Here, the sentence has changed to imply that the primary purpose of all boots is climbing. Because not all boots are used for mountain climbing, the sentence is not true.

What Happens When We Replace 'Which' with 'That'?

Now, let us switch 'which' with 'that' and see how the meaning of the sentence can change:

Mathew's bedroom, which is painted light blue, has a bed, a desk, two chairs, and a lamp.

Mathew's bedroom that is painted light blue has a bed, a desk, two chairs, and a lamp.

Here, it implies that Mathew has several bedrooms, therefore it is essential to specify the light blue one.

Sally's favorite restaurant, which has great view of the city center, is located in King of Prussia Mall.

Sally's favorite restaurant that has great view of the city center is located in King of Prussia Mall.

In this example, changing which to that shows that Sally is interested in many restaurants that have great views, and the sentences specify that her favorite is in King of Prussia Mall.

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