Which Should You Use: “Which” or “That”?

Have you ever stared at a sentence wondering if you should use “which” or “that”? Don’t worry; you’re not alone—this is one of those grammar dilemmas that trips up even native speakers.

Here’s the deal. Use “that” when the information is essential to the sentence. It’s like saying, “You need this to understand what’s going on.” For example, “The book that I borrowed from you is amazing.” If you don’t know which book, the sentence doesn’t make sense.

“Which,” on the other hand, is for non-essential info—the extra spice. For example, “The book, which I borrowed from you, is amazing.” Here, the commas are your way of saying, “This is just a fun fact!”

So, think of “that” as the essential ingredient in a recipe and “which” as the garnish. Both are important, but one you can’t skip. If you want me to answer more of your questions, send them to ask@englishpluspodcast.com.

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