Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cornfed · Joined: 14 Mar 2008

This is a question that has always baffled me. When do you use "which" and when do you use "that" to join clauses?

KoreanAmbition · Joined: 03 Feb 2008

That which confuses you, might also confuse others. Smile

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

From A-Z of English Grammar & Usage.

Relative clauses about things:
WHICH or THAT** links two separate ideas about the same thing or things.
We join these two ideas by using which or that instead of it or they.

E.g. I'm writing about a camera. It doesn't work.
I'm writing about a camera which doesn't work properly.
(main clause) ____________ (relative clause)

**We use that commonly instead of which, especially in <speech>.
But which is used in non-defining clauses(giving extra information that is not essential for what we are talking about).
E.g. I offered to let her stay at my house, which is about twenty minutes walk from the college.

Dances With Wolves · Joined: 06 May 2008 Location: A galaxy far, far away!

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Thiuda · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:46 am Post subject: Re: That/which usage

Cornfed · Joined: 14 Mar 2008

Thanks for all that. It would appear to be as I thought - that there is no agreed-upon rule for using one or the other.

kiwiduncan · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Location: New Zealand

Here's an example I often give my students:

"Cars that cause pollution should be banned."

"Cars, which cause pollution, should be banned."

In the above sentences, the first speaker is defining a certain set of cars (the dirty ones), but does not believe all cars should be banned. The second speaker believes all cars should be banned.

"The magazine, which I bought yesterday, was very interesting." (I just bought one magazine)

"The magazine that I bought yesterday was very interesting." (but the magazine that I bought today was shite)