AmeriLingua I Which vs. That

What Is The Difference Between “Which” and “That”?

The main difference between "which" and "that" is that "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses, and "that" is used for restrictive clauses. A non-restrictive clause is a clause that provides additional information about something but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. A restrictive clause is a clause that provides vital information about something and is critical to the purpose of the sentence.

For example, take the sentence, "The book which I bought was on sale.” In this sentence, the clause "which I bought" is a non-restrictive clause, as it provides additional information about the book but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. On the other hand, take the sentence, "The book that I bought was on sale.” In this sentence, the clause "that I bought" is a restrictive clause, as it provides essential information about the book and is critical to the meaning of the sentence.