The relative pronoun 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. (2 points)

Answer 1

The relative pronoun "that" is used with essential clauses, which are also known as restrictive clauses. These clauses provide necessary information to the meaning of the sentence and cannot be omitted without changing the intended meaning. "That" is used to introduce restrictive clauses that restrict or limit the meaning of the noun being modified. For example, in the sentence "The book that I borrowed from the library was very interesting," the clause "that I borrowed from the library" is essential to identify which book is being referred to.

On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used with nonessential clauses, also known as non-restrictive clauses. These clauses provide additional, non-essential information to the sentence and can be removed without altering the main idea. "Which" is used to introduce non-restrictive clauses that give extra information about the noun being modified. For example, in the sentence "I bought a new car, which is red," the clause "which is red" is nonessential and can be taken out without affecting the meaning of the sentence.

The key difference between the two types of relative clauses is the level of importance or necessity they have in the sentence. Essential clauses are necessary for identifying or specifying the noun being modified, while nonessential clauses provide extra, non-essential information. It is important to punctuate nonessential clauses with commas to separate them from the main sentence.