The relative pronoun that is used with an essential clause, and the relative pronoun which is used with a nonessential clause. In 3–5 short sentences, explain when to use each pronoun and the difference between the two types of relative clauses.
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The relative pronoun "that" is used with essential clauses, which are necessary for the understanding of the sentence. It is used to introduce restrictive information that limits or defines the noun it refers to. For example, "The book that I bought is on the table." In this sentence, "that" is necessary to specify which book is being referred to.
The relative pronoun "which" is used with nonessential clauses, which provide additional, non-restrictive information about the noun. These clauses can be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence. For example, "The book, which is red, is on the table." Here, the nonessential clause "which is red" adds extra information but is not crucial for understanding the subject.
The main difference between the two types of relative clauses is that essential clauses are necessary for the sentence's meaning and cannot be removed, while nonessential clauses provide additional information but can be removed without altering the main idea of the sentence. Additionally, essential clauses are generally introduced by "that," whereas nonessential clauses are generally introduced by "which."