The relative pronoun "that" is used to introduce an essential clause, also known as a restrictive clause. This type of clause provides necessary information to identify a specific noun and cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning. "That" is typically used when the information in the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used to introduce a nonessential clause, also known as a non-restrictive clause. This type of clause provides additional information about a noun but is not necessary for the basic understanding of the sentence. "Which" is often used when the information in the clause is nonessential and can be removed from the sentence without altering its meaning.
For example, consider the sentence: "The book that I borrowed from the library was very interesting." Here, "that I borrowed from the library" is an essential clause because it specifies the particular book being referred to. Removing this clause would result in an incomplete sentence.
In contrast, consider the sentence: "My car, which is blue, is parked outside." Here, "which is blue" is a nonessential clause that provides additional descriptive information about the car. Removing this clause would not affect the basic understanding of the sentence; it would still convey the idea that the person's car is parked outside.
In summary, "that" is used with essential clauses that are integral to the sentence's meaning, while "which" is used with nonessential clauses that provide additional information but are not necessary for the sentence's core understanding.
The relative pronoun "that" is used with an essential clause and the relative pronoun "which" is used with a nonessential clause. In three to five sentences, explain when to use each pronoun and the difference between the two relative clauses.j
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