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)
An essential clause is a part of the sentence that is necessary for the full meaning of the sentence. The relative pronoun "that" is used with essential clauses. For instance, "This is the book that changed my life." Here, the clause "that changed my life" is essential for understanding which book is being talked about. Without it, the sentence does not carry the same meaning.
On the other hand, a nonessential clause, also known as a nonrestrictive clause, provides additional information about the noun, but its removal would not change the core meaning of the sentence. The relative pronoun "which" is used with nonessential clauses. For example, "The park, which is next to the library, is very large." In this sentence, "which is next to the library" provides additional information, but removing it does not change the basic information: The park is very large.
Use the paragraph to complete the activity.
This summer, a popular sandwich shop called Mark’s Deli will be opening downtown. The deli will offer free tastings of their most popular sandwiches on Friday, May 10, Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12. The samples will include mouth-watering bites of the Veggie Deluxe, a wrap with roasted vegetables and hummus, the Italian Combo, a selection of Italian meats and cheeses on a roll, and the famous B.L.T., made with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on toasted rye bread. Mark’s Deli already has several other locations including Boston, Massachusetts, Brooklyn, New York, and Portland, Maine.
Rewrite the paragraph, replacing commas with semicolons where they are needed.
This summer, a popular sandwich shop called Mark’s Deli will be opening downtown; the deli will offer free tastings of their most popular sandwiches on Friday, May 10; Saturday, May 11; and Sunday, May 12. The samples will include mouth-watering bites of the Veggie Deluxe, a wrap with roasted vegetables and hummus; the Italian Combo, a selection of Italian meats and cheeses on a roll; and the famous B.L.T., made with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on toasted rye bread. Mark’s Deli already has several other locations including Boston, Massachusetts; Brooklyn, New York; and Portland, Maine.
The relative pronoun "that" is used to introduce an essential clause, which provides necessary and defining information about the noun it modifies. It is not set off by commas and cannot be omitted from the sentence without changing its meaning. For example, "The book that I bought is on the table." Here, the essential clause "that I bought" is necessary to specify the book being referred to.
On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used to introduce a nonessential clause, which provides additional, non-defining information about the noun it modifies. It is set off by commas and can be omitted from the sentence without altering its meaning. For example, "The book, which I bought at the bookstore, is on the table." Here, the nonessential clause "which I bought at the bookstore" simply adds extra information about the book, but it is not necessary to understand which book is being referred to.
In summary, "that" is used for essential clauses that are necessary to the sentence's meaning and cannot be removed, while "which" is used for nonessential clauses that provide supplementary information and can be omitted without changing the sentence's core meaning.
The relative pronoun "that" is used with an essential clause, which means the information in the clause is necessary to understand the main idea of the sentence. "That" is used when the information in the clause is essential to the sentence's meaning. For example, "The book that I read was really interesting."
On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used with a nonessential clause, which means the information is extra, providing additional details but not crucial to the sentence's meaning. "Which" is used when the information in the clause is supplementary and can be omitted without changing the main idea of the sentence. For example, "I finished the book, which was a bestseller."
The key difference between the two types of relative clauses is that the essential clause is not set off by commas, while the nonessential clause is usually enclosed by commas. Using the correct relative pronoun and punctuating appropriately is crucial for clear and effective writing.