That: Adding a descriptive clause for an inanimate noun

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That / Which

Adding a descriptive clause

Relative Pronouns

SUBJECT PRONOUN	OBJECT PRONOUN
Use that or which to add a descriptive clause for a subject noun in an independent clause. Both that and which can be used with things (inanimate). Only that can be used with people (animate) as well	Use that or which to add a descriptive clause for an object noun in an independent clause.
The car that is small is green.	The car that you drive is green.
The person that is inside is hiding. (informal use with people)	The person that you can't see is hiding. (informal use with people)
The car which is small is green.	The car which you drive is green.

An Adjective vs. An Adjective Clause

ADJECTIVE	ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
An adjective (word-modifier) is placed before the noun.	An adjective clause is placed after the noun.
We traded in our old car for a new car.	We traded in our car that was old for a new car. [the car was old ]
trade in (v.) – to give something old as partial payment for something new	We traded in our car which was old for a new car. [the car was old ]

Related page: That vs. Which using commas
Also see: Who / Whom using that for people

That / Which

As the subject of the adjective clause

That as the Subject of the Verb in the Modifying Clause

JOIN THE SENTENCES:		MAIN CLAUSE	MODIFYING CLAUSE
1	Replace the subject noun in the adjective clause with that or which. (The car is the subject noun.)	The car is economical to drive.	The car is very small. (subject noun.)
2	Place the that-clause next to the word it modifies.	The car	that is very small is economical to drive.
3	Add commas if the clause is nonidentifying, adds extra information.	The Smart Car,	which is very small, is economical to drive.

Common Mistake

ERROR	FIX
The car is very economical that holds just two passengers.	The car that holds just two passengers is very economical. Move the clause forward, next to the word it modifies.

That / Which

As the object of the adjective clause

That as the Object of the Verb in the Modifying Clause

JOIN THE SENTENCES:		MAIN CLAUSE	MODIFYING CLAUSE
1	Replace the object noun in the adjective clause with that or which. (The car is the object noun.)	The car is economical to drive.	I want to buy the car. (object noun)
2	Move that to the front of the modifying clause.		that I want to buy
3	Insert the clause into the sentence next to the word it modifies – car. Optionally, you can omit that, an object pronoun. Omitting that.	The car	(that) I want to buy is economical to drive.
4	Add commas if the clause is nonidentifying, adds extra information.	The Smart Car,	which I want to buy, is economical to drive.

Common Mistake

ERROR	FIX
The car that I want to buy it is economical to drive.	The car that I want to buy [it] is economical to drive. Delete it. Otherwise, there are two pronouns referring to the car.
The guy which was sitting next to me in the bus was from Ghana.	The guy that/who was sitting next to me in the bus was from Ghana. Use that or who for an animate (personal) noun.
The phone is available that I want to buy.	The phone that I want to buy is available. Move the that -clause next to (after) the word it modifies.

Object Pronouns

Omitting That

When can you omit that?

SUBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE		OBJECT PRONOUN OF CLAUSE
When that takes the place of the subject noun/pronoun of a clause, it cannot be omitted (deleted).		When that takes the place of the object noun/pronoun of a clause, it can be omitted (deleted).
The phone	that woke you is here. The phone woke you. (The phone is the subject of the clause.)	The phone	[that] you dropped is here. You dropped the phone. ( The object of the clause is the phone.)

How do you know if it takes the place of an object? (This is a method for simple clauses.)

IS THAT FOLLOWED BY A VERB?	IS THAT FOLLOWED BY A NOUN?
If that is followed by a verb, then it is likely the relative pronoun is the subject of the adjective clause. It cannot be deleted.	If that is followed by a subject noun/pronoun (I, we, he, she, they) then it is likely that is the object of the adjective clause. It can be deleted.
The car that drives the best is the sports car. (Cannot delete that.) (verb)	The car [that] we enjoy driving is the sports car. (Can delete that.) (subject pronoun)
They guy that sold Jack his car appears to be honest. (Cannot delete that.) (verb)	The guy [that] Jack spoke to appears to be honest. (Can delete that.) (subject noun)
The driver that probably hit my car lives next door. (Cannot delete that.) (adverb + verb)	The driver [that] Jack and I probably hit is angry. (Can delete that.) (double- subject pronoun)

Practice 1

Adding a Modifying Clause

Select the response that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
1	ADD: It holds about 9 gallons. The car averages 39 miles per gallon.
2	ADD: I want one! The car averages 39 miles per gallon. averages (v.) – gets a particular amount over a period of time; "usually gets"
3	ADD: It was parked outside a cafe. When I was in Italy, I admired a Smart car
4	ADD: I drove it across Europe. When I was in Italy, I leased a Smart car
5	ADD: You can park it vertically to the curb. The car is a Smart car. vertically (adv.) – at a 90 degree angle
6	ADD: It is too small for most cars. A parking space is perfect for a Smart car.
7	ADD: Engineers tested it. A Smart car, , managed to do well in crash tests.
8	ADD: It was tested for head-on crashes. A Smart car managed to do well in crash tests.

Practice 2

Omitting the Relative Pronoun

Select the response that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK YOUR ANSWER
9.	Can you tell me what time the next flight goes to Los Angeles leaves?
10.	That would be the 6 o'clock flight. – No, the flight I want leaves in thirty minutes.
11.	I believe the 5'clock flight you want is full.
12.	The flight leaves at 6 o'clock has open seats. open (adj.) – term for available seats
13.	Ok. – Do you want a seat is next to the window or on the aisle?
14.	A window seat, please. – Do you have one is in the tail section?
15.	Yes, I do. – The boarding pass I am giving you is for seat 9C at 6 o'clock.
16.	Thank you. This is a trip I am looking forward to – home.