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Which or That
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Which or That |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095
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Could somebody suggest to me how or when to use "which or that" in a sentence? I would greatly appreciate it  Thank you.< !signature-->Je t'aime plus qu'hier et moins que demain." I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow (unkown) [This message has been edited by Dark Angel (edited 05-28-2000).] |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Hi Dark Angel... According to my Warriner's quote: ...so who's still wondering that which is correct....  [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 05-29-2000).] |
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jenni Member
since 1999-09-11
Posts 478Washington D.C. |
dark angel-- good question, lol.  nan is right, "which" only refers to things, and "that" can refer to things or people. ("who", of course, only refers to people.) the warriner's explanation quoted by nan, however, doesn't explain when to use "that" or "which" when referring to things. "that" defines and restricts. "which" is explanatory and nonrestrictive, it introduces a clause that merely adds something, almost like an afterthought or an aside. for example: "a car that has over 200,000 miles on it won't last much longer." the clause "that has over 200,000 miles on it" is a restrictive clause, necessary to define what sort of car i am talking about. the clause restricts, defines or limits the subject of the sentence, "a car." out of all possible cars (new cars, old cars, red cars, blue cars, whatever), the "that" clause limits or cuts back the subject to "a car that has over 200,000 miles on it". "my jeep, which has over 200,000 miles on it, won't last much longer." the clause "which has over 200,000 miles on it" is an unrestrctive clause as used here, NOT necessary to define what jeep i'm talking about; i already said it was "my" jeep. the clause does not restrict, define or limit the subject of the sentence any further than it already has been defined ("my jeep" is still "my jeep"); it merely adds detail. if you can take the clause out of the sentence and it still makes sense, if it still refers indisputably to the same subject, use "which." ("my jeep won't last much longer.") if it doesn't, use "that" ("a car won't last much longer"....huh? what car?). sometimes this depends on context. consider these two sentences: "the barbeque that was scheduled for saturday was rained out." "the barbeque, which was scheduled for saturday, was rained out." both sentences will make sense on the face of it if i just said "the barbeque was rained out." in the first sentence, though, the clause "that was scheduled for saturday" operates to tell the reader which barbeque i'm talking about (the one that was scheduled for saturday). in the second sentence, it is assumed that the reader already knows which barbeque i'm talking about (the barbeque at brian's parents' house, say, lol), and the clause "which was scheduled for saturday" only serves to add detail. i actually disagree with the warriner's example quoted by nan (i remember using warriner's in middle school and thinking even then that it left a lot to be desired). i think the first sentence there should read "he sat in a chair that was broken," especially when the sentence uses the indefinite article "a" for the subject "chair." (the clause "that was broken" then tells the reader which chair the man sat in.) the third sentence in the warriner's example also seems awkward to me, lol, i'd use "who" there, just my opinion, though. so, i'd say use "that" to define the subject of a sentence, use "which" to add detail. jenni |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
LOL... Good work, Jenni... |
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Poertree Senior Member
since 1999-11-05
Posts 1359UK |
maree ....LOL....I see you met jenni ... frightening isn't she?!  ... this is yet one more reminder to me NEVER to argue with her ...lol P PS .. thought you said that jeep had only 150,000 mls .. been on the road a lot in the last couple of months ? |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Nan and Jenni, Thanks so much, this has made things more clearly for me now. I appreciate it so much. Mr P, well yeah sort of I have and she seems to be very infomative as well as Nan, and I am sure that she is a lovely person also You just make sure my friend that you NEVER argue with her ok. hehehe *hugs* all Maree Je t'aime plus qu'hier et moins que demain." I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow (unkown) |
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