Commonly Confused Words: That vs. Which vs. Who

Introduction: "That," "Which," and "Who" are relative pronouns used to add more information about a subject, object, or idea in a sentence. Though they all serve a similar function, they are used in different contexts. This tutorial will help clarify when and how to use each one.

Definitions

• That: Used to introduce essential clauses (restrictive clauses) that provide necessary information about the noun.
• Which: Used to introduce non-essential clauses (non-restrictive clauses), often providing additional information that could be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.
• Who: Used to refer to people or sometimes animals in a more personal sense.

Key Differences

• That is used for defining or restricting clauses, meaning the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
• Which is used for additional information that is not essential to the sentence’s meaning, often set off by commas.
• Who is used when referring to people or animals with names or personalities (e.g., "the woman who called").

Examples of "That" (Essential Information)

• The book that I read yesterday was very interesting.
• She is the artist that painted this mural.
• The dog that barked loudly woke me up.
• The chair that broke was very old.
• He is the person that helped me with my project.
• The company that launched the new product has received great reviews.

Examples of "Which" (Non-Essential Information)

• The movie, which was released last year, became a huge hit.
• The cake, which I baked this morning, is for the party tonight.
• The car, which was parked outside, belongs to my friend.
• The painting, which was created by a famous artist, is displayed in the gallery.
• He gave me the book, which I had wanted for a long time.
• The house, which is near the beach, was for sale last month.

Examples of "Who" (Referring to People or Animals)

• The teacher who helped me was very kind.
• The man who spoke at the conference is an expert in the field.
• The dog who was lost for days finally came home.
• The students who finished their assignments early were rewarded.
• The woman who called yesterday left a message for you.
• The child who won the competition was very proud of her achievement.