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)
The relative pronoun "that" is used with an essential clause, also known as a restrictive clause. This type of clause provides necessary information to the sentence and cannot be omitted without changing the meaning. For example, in the sentence "The car that I bought is red," the essential clause "that I bought" specifies which car is being referred to.
On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used with a nonessential clause, also known as a nonrestrictive clause. This type of clause provides additional information to the sentence, but its omission does not change the core meaning. For example, in the sentence "My car, which I bought last year, is red," the nonessential clause "which I bought last year" provides additional information about the car but can be removed without altering the main idea.
The key difference between essential and nonessential clauses is their necessity to convey the intended meaning. Essential clauses are crucial to identify or define the subject, whereas nonessential clauses offer extra details that do not impact the sentence's core message. It is important to differentiate between the two and use the appropriate relative pronoun accordingly.
The relative pronoun "that" is used with an essential clause, which is a clause that provides necessary and essential information to the sentence. Essential clauses do not require commas and cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning. For example, in the sentence "The book that I bought is on the shelf," the essential clause "that I bought" is necessary to identify which book is being referred to.
On the other hand, the relative pronoun "which" is used with a nonessential clause, also known as a nonrestrictive or parenthetical clause. Nonessential clauses provide additional, non-crucial information to the sentence. These clauses are set off by commas and can be removed from the sentence without changing its essential meaning. For instance, in the sentence "The book, which is red, is on the shelf," the nonessential clause "which is red" provides extra information about the book but is not necessary to identify it.
In summary, "that" is used with an essential clause that is necessary to the sentence, and "which" is used with a nonessential clause that provides supplementary information. "That" does not require commas and cannot be removed without altering the sentence's meaning, while "which" is set off by commas and can be omitted without changing the essential meaning of the sentence.