‘Which’ is a ‘wh’ word and people often think that it is only used while asking a question. But that’s not true. It is one of the most grammatically confusing words used in English language, despite being so common. While asking a question, you can use it like this:
‘Which city you are moving to?’
However, it is often used interchangeably with ‘that’ and ‘who’, but there are certain rules you need to follow. It’s confusion with ‘that’ is most common when it is used as a determiner. To understand how to use the word ‘which’ in a sentence, oneHOWTO looks at all its different uses and explains when and when it is not needed.
Contents
- Restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses
- Using ‘which’ in a question
- Using ‘which’ in a relative clause
- Use ‘which’ or ‘who’
- Use of ‘which’ with ‘of’
- Use of ‘which’ to avoid repetitions
Restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses
If you are confused about using ‘which’ or ‘that’ in a sentence, you need to understand the differences between the restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses.
For example:
‘I ate the chicken that was spoiled’
In this example, the word ‘that’ has introduced a restrictive relative clause. This means the clause contains important information about the noun that follows. If you decide to rule out this kind of clause, you may affect the meaning of the sentence and sometimes it may not make any sense at all.
In British English, ‘which’ can be used interchangeably with a restrictive ‘that’. Like ‘I ate the chicken which was spoiled’. This kind of sentence structure may be correct, but it is not normally used in formal forms of writing.
Another type of relative clause is the non-restrictive relative clause. This type of clause may have extra information you might leave out without affecting the structure or meaning of the sentence.
For instance ‘I ate spoiled chicken, which made me ill’
In this kind of sentence, if you leave the clause, you may have less information but that doesn’t affect the its structure. ‘I ate spoiled chicken’ is a complete sentence in itself. Note that the non-restrictive relative clause often has a comma which sets off the extra information, while the restrictive clause does not have a comma which makes the information essential.
Using ‘which’ in a question
The word ‘which’ is used in questions as an interrogative pronoun and determiner. You may use it while asking for some specific information, such as ‘which car are we going in?’ ‘Which’ can also be used in indirect statements and questions. For example, ‘find out which book he is reading at present’. Both ‘which’ and ‘what’ can be used to ask questions. ‘Which’ is used when the question has a restricted range of answers and ‘what’ is used when there is no limitation to the possible answers.
Note the difference:
For instance, what is your favorite color?
Which is your favorite color? Red or pink?
The first sentence asks about the favorite color of the person, which can be any color on the palette. There are no limitations to the answer. But in the second sentence, the person is given two choices, red and pink, and they have to choose between these two options only. This means that the answer has limitations and ‘which’ would be the correct word to use.
Using ‘which’ in a relative clause
Relative clause is a clause that starts with a relative pronoun who, which, that, where, when or whose.
- It is most often used for identifying or defining a noun that precedes it. For instance, ‘do you know the girl who is wearing the red skirt?’
- ‘Which’ is a relative clause that we can use to refer to an animal or to a thing. For example, ‘we have brought many changes which will bring success to the business’
- We can also use ‘which’ in order to introduce some relative clause while referring to a whole sentence or clause. Like ‘she ate a whole plate of noodles, which was because she was hungry’
- ‘Which’ is often used with prepositions. In formal style of writing, a preposition is used before ‘which’ in order to prevent it from ‘hanging’ by the sentence’s end. For instance, formal style will use ‘there are many restaurants in which a variety of cuisines are offered’. This is instead of ‘there are many restaurants which a variety of cuisines are offered in’.
Use ‘which’ or ‘who’
The word ‘who’ refers to people, while ‘which’ refers to things. For instance, ‘I drew a card which was blank’. But most of the time, ‘which’ appears in a restrictive way. This restrictive form generally illustrates by using ‘that’ instead of ‘which’. The word ‘which’ is often reserved for non-restrictive functions. In that case, the information such a sentence provides is not required.
In the above example, it is important information that the card drawn was blank. In most cases, the word ‘who’ is used to refer to a person, but sometimes, ‘that’ can also be used, mainly in British English. But in formal writing, this use of ‘that’ is incorrect and people should be referred to by ‘who’ only.
Use of ‘which’ with ‘of’
Sometimes, we use ‘which’ followed by ‘of’. This kind of construction is often used which selecting a few among many. For instance, ‘which of the following options are correct?’ In this reference, a number of options are given and a person has to choose the correct one only.
Sometimes, ‘which one’ is also used, in which case you have to choose one among many. For instance, ‘which one are you talking about?’. There may be many things or people in front of you and you have to choose the one about which the speaker is talking. Although ‘which one’ can be used to choose among people, it is often used to choose among objects. For people, the correct sentence would be ‘whom you are talking about?’.
Use of ‘which’ to avoid repetitions
Sometimes, if you have already used ‘that’ in a sentence, you may choose to write ‘which’ in order to avoid repetition of the word ‘that’. For instance, ‘that which you cannot see’. In this sentence, ‘which’ is used because ‘that’ was already used and you cannot write two ‘that’ words in a sentence. Whether it is required or not, this kind of sentence is often constructed to avoid any awkward formations. ‘That that you cannot see’ is not technically incorrect, but the use of ‘which’ instead of a second ‘that’ is more preferable.
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It can be hard to know when to use “which” and when to use “that” in a sentence, even if you are a native English speaker. Knowing the difference between a restrictive and non-restrictive clause and when and how to use them can help you learn how to use “which” and “that” correctly.
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Determine what a restrictive clause is. The key to knowing if you need to use “which” or “that” in a sentence is deciding if you need to create a restrictive or non-restrictive clause.
- A restrictive clause is one that sets limits on the subject of the sentence. A restrictive clause also contributes to the meaning of the sentence – the sentence won’t make sense without the restrictive clause.
- For example, the sentence “I like flowers that are purple” has a restrictive clause in it and removing it would change the meaning of the sentence. “That are purple” is the restrictive clause, because without it you would just be telling people that you like flowers in general.[1]
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Determine what a non-restrictive clause is. A non-restrictive clause adds information to the sentence, but removing it doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence. These are usually separated by commas before and after the clause. They may also be distinguished by dashes or parentheses.
- For example, the sentence, “The car, which is red, was totaled in the accident,” has a non-restrictive clause in it because “which is red” can be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning. The car will still be totaled, whether we know its color or not. “Which is red” is the non-restrictive clause.[2]
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- For example, the sentence, “The car, which is red, was totaled in the accident,” has a non-restrictive clause in it because “which is red” can be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning. The car will still be totaled, whether we know its color or not. “Which is red” is the non-restrictive clause.[2]
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Determine if you’re using a restrictive or non-restrictive clause. When you’re trying to figure out if you’re using a restrictive or non-restrictive clause, ask yourself if the clause changes the meaning of the sentence or if it just adds information to it.
- If taking out the clause changes the meaning of the sentence, you’re using a restrictive clause. In the sentence «Jimmy likes apples that are red» taking out «that are red» changes the meaning of the sentence; we might think Jimmy likes all apples and not just the red ones. «That are red» is, therefore, a restrictive clause.
- If taking out the clause doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence, you’re using a non-restrictive clause.[3]
In the sentence «Jimmy thinks apples, which grow on trees in his yard, are the best fruit,» taking out «which grow on trees in his yard» doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence. We still learn that apples are Jimmy’s favorite fruit, and therefore «which grow on trees in his yard» is a non-restrictive clause.
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Use “that” for restrictive clauses. If you determine that omitting the clause changes the meaning of the sentence, you need to use “that” in your sentence.[4]
- For example, in the sentence “I like dogs that are brown,” the clause “that are brown” is crucial to understanding the sentence; it limits what type of dogs you like.
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Use “which” for non-restrictive clauses. If omitting the clause only removes additional information from the sentence, you need to use “which” in your sentence.
- For example, in the sentence “I took the firetruck, which is my niece’s favorite toy, to be fixed,” the clause “which is my niece’s favorite toy” only adds information to the sentence. You’re taking the firetruck to be fixed – the fact that the truck is your niece’s favorite doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence.[5]
- For example, in the sentence “I took the firetruck, which is my niece’s favorite toy, to be fixed,” the clause “which is my niece’s favorite toy” only adds information to the sentence. You’re taking the firetruck to be fixed – the fact that the truck is your niece’s favorite doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence.[5]
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Determine where you should place commas. If you’re creating a non-restrictive clause and therefore using “which” in your sentence, the clause should usually be surrounded by commas. In some cases, though, you may also use dashes or parentheses to separate a non-restrictive clause.
- For example, “I love lobster, which is expensive, because it reminds me of growing up by the ocean,” would still have the same meaning without “which is expensive.” Therefore, «which is expensive» is the phrase you should surround with commas.
- If you know you have a non-restrictive clause and need to use “which,” but don’t know where to put the commas, test it. Your sentence should still make sense if you take out the words surrounded by commas.[6]
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How is «which» used in a question?
«Which» is used in a question when you are referring choices or options. Some examples would be «Which flower do you like?» «Which song do you want to play?» «Which store are we going to?»
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How do I use «should» and «must» correctly?
«Should» is a suggestion; «must» is an insistence, usually used when something is imperative.
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«I was sorry that I could not to go to class.» Is this sentence correct?
Almost. «…that I could not go to class.»
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Article SummaryX
To use “that” and “which” correctly, determine if the clause in question would change the meaning of the sentence if it were removed. If it does change the meaning of the sentence, use “that.” For example, in the sentence, “I like flowers that are red,” you’d use “that” because if you removed the phrase, “that are red,” the meaning of the sentence would change. Alternatively, if the phrase is just adding information to the sentence, as in, “That car, which is red, is mine,” you’d use “which” because removing the phrase, “which is red,” wouldn’t change the meaning. For tips on how to place commas around these types of phrases, read on!
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How do you use the word Which?
Which vs. That: How to Choose
- In a defining clause, use that.
- In non-defining clauses, use which.
- Remember, which is as disposable as a sandwich bag. If you can remove the clause without destroying the meaning of the sentence, the clause is nonessential and you can use which.
What is the rule for using that or which?
The clause that comes after the word “which” or “that” is the determining factor in deciding which one to use. If the clause is absolutely pertinent to the meaning of the sentence, you use “that.” If you could drop the clause and leave the meaning of the sentence intact, use “which.”
What is the difference between who and that?
Who is always used to refer to people. That is always used when you are talking about an object. That can also be used when you are talking about a class or type of person, such as a team.
Can WHO and that be used interchangeably?
The word “who,” on the other hand, is used depending upon the grammar of the clause including one which uses it as an implied antecedent. It is also used as a subject for a verb and may be used interchangeably with the word “that.” It is usually used after a comma to suggest further remarks about a person.
Should I say people that or people who?
Here’s the thing: “who” (and its forms) refers to people. “That” usually refers to things, but it can refer to people in a general sense (like a class or type of person: see “runner.”). However, when speaking about a particular person in formal language, who is preferred.”
How do you use it and it’s in a sentence?
Its. It’s is a contraction and should be used where a sentence would normally read “it is.” the apostrophe indicates that part of a word has been removed. Its with no apostrophe, on the other hand, is the possessive word, like “his” and “her,” for nouns without gender.
What is a good sentence for its?
Therefore, the sentence should be: “The tire had lost its air.” Because the air belonged to the tire, the “its” is possessive. Remember, if you can’t replace “it’s” with “it is” or “it has,” then using the apostrophe would be wrong.
What is an example of affect?
Use “affect” as the verb in a sentence when you’re talking about producing change or making a difference. For example, a new discovery can affect a scientific theory, and failing a test can affect someone’s mood. Here are some synonyms of affect: alter, change, influence, modify, and impact (the verb version).
Which sentence uses the word affect correctly?
Sunshine always has a positive affect on my mood. That injury will affect her ability to swim in tomorrow’s race. Studies show that eating breakfast has a strong affect on one’s ability to concentrate. Sad movies always affect my sister.
Is effected a word?
The verb form of the “e” word means “to bring about,” and it can act as an adjective in its -ed form: “The effected change in the garden while I’ve been away is far beyond what I’d hoped.”
What is another word for effected?
In this page you can discover 46 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for effected, like: impacted, achieved, occasioned, neglected, accomplished, established, enhanced, resulted, realized, produced and performed.
What is the phrasal verb of affect?
Answer. on, act on,refer to.
How do you spell effects?
Correct spelling for the English word “effect” is [ɪfˈɛkt], [ɪfˈɛkt], [ɪ_f_ˈɛ_k_t] (IPA phonetic alphabet)….Similar spelling words for EFFECT
- effective,
- effects,
- defect,
- effector,
- Affects,
- in effect,
- effected,
- affect,
который, который, какой, что, кто, каковой
прилагательное ↓
- в прямых вопросах какой?, который?
which book did you choose? — которую из книг вы выбрали? 
I’m going with the girls. — Which girls?
- в косвенных вопросах и придаточных предложениях
- какой, который
say which chapter you prefer? — скажите, какая глава вам больше всего нравится?
which Miss Smith do you mean, the younger or the elder one? — которую мисс Смит вы имеете в виду, младшую или старшую?
- каковой
I shall complain to the colonel, which colonel by the way is my cousin — я буду жаловаться полковнику, а он, кстати сказать, мой родственник
he stayed here two weeks, during which time he never left the house — он пробыл здесь две недели и в течение всего этого времени ни разу не выходил из дому
he was told to apply to a police station, which advice he followed — ему сказали обратиться в полицию, что он и сделал
- любой; тот, который
take which of these books you please — возьмите любую книгу, которая вам нравится
местоимение ↓
- употр. с гл. в ед. и мн. ч. А inter
- в прямых вопросах, связанных с возможностью выбора кто (из)?; что (из)?; который (из)?; какой?
which employees took their vacation in July? — кто из служащих отдыхал в июле?
which will you take, tea pr coffee? — что вы будете пить, чай или кофе?
which of the girls [books] do you like best? — которая /какая/ из девушек [из книг] вам больше нравится?
- в косвенных вопросах и придаточных предложениях кто; что; который; какой
tell me which of you did that? — скажите мне, кто из вас это сделал?
will you advise me which to take? — не посоветуете ли вы мне, какой /который, что/ (из них) выбрать?
- который, которая, которые
take the book which is on the table — возьмите книгу, которая лежит на столе
this phrase, of which I have seen very few examples, is not worth learning — этот оборот, который я так редко встречал, не стоит заучивать
the places to which we are going — те места, куда мы сейчас едем
the pen which I was writing with — ручка, которой я писал
- каковой; который
he looked like a retired general, which indeed he was — он был похож на генерала в отставке, кем /каковым/ он действительно и был
when overwrought, which he often was … — будучи переутомлённым, каковым он часто и бывал …
this fact, which I think you have forgotten, proves the contrary — этот факт, который, мне кажется, вы забыли, свидетельствует об обратном
- употр. в качестве подлежащего придаточного предложения что
he lost his way, which delayed him considerably — он заблудился, что /и это/ его значительно задержало
he was back in London, which I did not know — он уже вернулся в Лондон, чего я не знал
he demands that actors should have talent, in which he is right — он требует, чтобы у артистов был талант, и в этом он прав
he is a wise fellow and, which is more, an efficiency expert — он умный человек, и, более того, специалист по организации труда
- (в сочетании с so) редк. который, какой
there is not any argument so absurd, which is daily received — нет более абсурдных аргументов, чем те, которые мы слышим каждый день
- в неправ. употр., где which излишне
this is their due, and which ought to be rendered to them by all people — это их заслуга, и должно им воздать за это всем народом
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
illegal business which is worth billions of dollars — незаконный бизнес, с оборотом в миллиарды долларов
to know which side one’s bread is buttered — быть себе на уме
the old traditions in which they had been bred — старые традиции, в которых они были воспитаны
to see which way the cat jumps, to wait for the cat to jump — ждать, откуда ветер подует
the sections into which our society is cleft — группы, на которые расколото наше общество
the coat of varnish which surrounded every particle — слой лака, который покрывал каждую мелкую деталь
the condensation of thought and expression, which distinguish this poet — краткость мысли и стиля, которые отличают этого поэта
words which are not current in English — слова, которые почти не используются в английском
two Greek words which differ only in accentuation — два греческих слова, различающиеся только ударением
a fact, the significance of which had previously escaped me — факт, значение которого до этого ускользало от меня
Примеры с переводом
Which of you am I to criticize?
Кого из вас мне ругать?
He was trying to make out which was noble and which was valet.
Он пытался понять, кто из них был дворянин, а кто — слуга.
He got married again a year later, which surprised everybody.
Год спустя он снова женился, что всех удивило.
Which vs. That: How to Choose
- In a defining clause, use that.
- In non-defining clauses, use which.
- Remember, which is as disposable as a sandwich bag. If you can remove the clause without destroying the meaning of the sentence, the clause is nonessential and you can use which.
Simply so What is a better word for Which? In this page you can discover 23 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for which, like: that, and which, and-that, whichever, what, who, whatever, thus, therefore, for-which and whereby.
Is it which are or which is? Both are correct as “which is” refers to “a single item, as the verb is in the singular, (is)”. The second one “which are”refers to “two or more items as the verb is in the plural form (are)”. “Which is” your car?
also Which vs that meaning? “That” is used to indicate a specific object, item, person, condition, etc., while “which” is used to add information to objects, items, people, situations, etc. Because “which” indicates a non-restrictive (optional) clause, it is usually set off by commas before “which” and at the end of the clause.
What is the definition of wich?
Wich means a bundle of thread when used as a noun. A good way to remember the difference is Which has two Hs. Out of the two words, ‘which’ is the most common. … Wich is an obsolete noun that can mean either “a bundle of thread” or “a village or settlement.”
Which can lead to synonym? What is another word for lead to?
| produce | catalyse UK |
|---|---|
| yield | result in |
| bring about | bring on |
| contribute to | set in motion |
| translate into | give rise to |
Which are for plural?
The word “which”, without any changes, can be used for singular or plural without changing anything . For example: Which cookie would you like? – “Which” is singular because “cookie” is singular. Or Which pets do you like best? “Which” is plural because it refers to the word “pets”, and the word “pets” is plural.
Which is correct on or in? IN Use in when something is located inside of a defined space. It could be a flat space, like a yard, or a three-dimensional space, like a box, house, or car. The space does not need to be closed on all sides (“There is water IN the glass”). ON Use on when something is touching the surface of something.
Are is conjunction?
Coordinating conjunctions allow you to join words, phrases, and clauses of equal grammatical rank in a sentence. The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so; you can remember them by using the mnemonic device FANBOYS. I’d like pizza or a salad for lunch.
Who vs which vs that? The traditional approach to this question is to use “that” with restrictive clauses and “which” with nonrestrictive clauses. … When writing a restrictive clause, introduce it with the word “that” and no comma. (However, if the subject is or was a human being, use “who” to introduce the clause.)
Who that which relative clauses?
We don’t use ‘that’ in non-defining relative clauses, so we need to use ‘which’ if the pronoun refers to a thing, and ‘who’ if it refers to a person. We can’t drop the relative pronoun in this kind of clause, even if the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause.
What is the difference between that and which in relative clauses? Luckily there’s an easy way to remember whether to use that or which. If the relative clause contains information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, and is also preceded by a comma, a dash, or parenthesis, it’s probably nonrestrictive, so use which. If not, odds are it’s restrictive, so use that.
Is wich a Scrabble word?
Yes, wich is in the scrabble dictionary.
Is sandwich a compound word?
Yet surprisingly sandwich is a compound <sand+wich>. In order to understand this we must consider the place and the person who had an impact on this word. There is a place called Sandwich: Toponyms refer to place names- from Greek roots τόπος: topos: place and Greek ὀνύματ- , ὄνυμα onymat-, onyma: name.
What is the rule to use a or an? The indefinite article an is used to make pronunciation easier when reading a text aloud. The general rule is to use a when the indefinite article precedes a word beginning with a consonant sound and an when it precedes a word starting with a vowel sound.
Is it led or lead? When to Use Lead or Led
Lead is both a noun and a verb, as most people know. … The correct past and past participle of lead is spelled led. If you aren’t sure whether to use led or lead as the verb in your sentence, try reading it aloud to yourself. If the verb is pronounced /LED/, use led.
Which has led or lead?
The past tense of the verb lead is led, not lead. One reason for the confusion might be that a similar verb, read, has an infinitive that’s spelled the same as the past tense. But with lead, that’s not how things are.
Is it embark on or embark upon? Definition of embark on/upon
1 : to begin (a journey) They embarked on their trip to America with high hopes. 2 : to begin (something that will take a long time or happen for a long time) She’s embarking on a new career. The company has embarked upon a risky new project.
Which refers to singular or plural?
It is in fact possible, however, for the relative pronouns which, who, and that to be either singular or plural. They take their number from their antecedent—the words to which they refer. That is, if the antecedent is plural, the pronoun is plural and therefore takes a plural verb.
Is are a preposition? The word ‘are’ is not a preposition. The word ‘are’ is the present, plural form of the verb ‘be’ for first person words, and the present, singular…
Has and have difference?
While the verb to have has many different meanings, its primary meaning is “to possess, own, hold for use, or contain.” Have and has indicate possession in the present tense (describing events that are currently happening). Have is used with the pronouns I, you, we, and they, while has is used with he, she, and it.
Is the word with a preposition? As detailed above, ‘with’ is a preposition. Preposition usage: He picked a fight with the class bully. Preposition usage: He went with his friends.
Where do we use preposition?
The preposition ‘on’ indicates that something is already in the position. ‘Onto’ indicates a movement from one place onto to surface of some type. The book is on the table. But Pete took the book out of his backpack and put it onto the table.
Is about a preposition or not? About can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): He told me about your problem. as an adverb (without a following noun): Stop rushing about.