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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
[that] you dropped is
here. |
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.) |
The car [that] we enjoy driving is the sports car. (Can delete that.) |
They guy that sold Jack his car appears to be honest. (Cannot delete that.) |
The
guy [that] Jack spoke to appears to be honest. (Can delete that.) |
The driver that probably hit my car lives next door. (Cannot delete that.) |
The driver [that] Jack and I probably hit is angry. (Can delete that.) |
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.
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.
