Which vs. That. Jak jest różnica?

Introduction

One of the most common questions English teachers get is: What's the difference between "which" and "that"? Understanding the difference between "which" and "that" can be tricky. It's one of those English grammar points that can really trip up learners, especially if they need help understanding the difference between the two words.

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.
 

Common Mistakes with “Which” and “That”

One of the most common mistakes people make when using "which" and "that" is using "which" when they should be using "that.” As mentioned before, "that" is used for restrictive clauses, and "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses. So if you're talking about something that is essential to the meaning of the sentence, you should use "that.” For example, "The book that I bought was on sale" is correct, not "The book which I bought was on sale.”

Another common mistake is forgetting to use a comma before "which.” As mentioned earlier, "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses, and a comma should precede non-restrictive clauses. For example, "The book, which I bought, was on sale" is correct, not "The book which I bought was on sale.”

When to Use “Which”

As mentioned before, "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses, which provide additional information about something but are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. So when you're talking about something that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, you should use "which.”. For example, "The book, which I bought last week, was on sale" is correct, as the clause "which I bought last week" provides additional information about the book but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

When to Use “That”

On the other hand, "that" is used for restrictive clauses, which provide essential information about something and are essential to the meaning of the sentence. So when you're talking about something that is essential to the meaning of the sentence, you should use "that.”. For example, "The book that I bought was on sale" is correct, as the clause "that I bought" provides essential information about the book and is essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Examples of “Which” and “That”

Now that we've gone over the difference between the two words and the common mistakes people make when using them, let's look at some examples of how to use "which" and "that.”

For "which,” here are some examples:

• “The restaurant, which opened last week, serves Italian food.“
• “The movie, which I saw last night, was really funny.“
• “The store, which I visited yesterday, had some great deals.“

For "that,” here are some examples:

• “The restaurant that I went to last week was really good. “
• “The movie that I watched last night was really funny.“
• “The store that I visited yesterday had some great deals.“

Final Thoughts: “Which” vs. “That”

Knowing the difference between "which" and "that" is critical to writing or speaking English fluently. Understanding the difference between the two words can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be. This article explained the difference between "which" and "that" and the common mistakes people make when using them. There were also some examples provided of when to use "which" and when to use "that" in everyday English.