The relative pronoun is that is used with an essential clause, and the relative pronoun which is used with a nonessential clause. In 3-5 sentences, explain when to use each pronoun and the difference between the two types of relative clauses

1 answer

The relative pronoun "that" is used with an essential clause, which is a clause that is necessary for the sentence's meaning and cannot be omitted without changing the intended meaning. For example, in the sentence "The book that I borrowed from the library is due tomorrow," the relative clause "that I borrowed from the library" is essential to specify which book is being referred to.

On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used with a nonessential clause, which provides additional information but can be omitted without changing the intended meaning of the sentence. For instance, in the sentence "My car, which is blue, needs a new paint job," the relative clause "which is blue" adds extra information about the car's color but is not crucial for understanding that the car needs a new paint job.

The key difference between the two types of relative clauses is that an essential clause is necessary for the sentence's meaning and cannot be removed, while a nonessential clause is additional information that can be omitted without altering the sentence's overall meaning.