Question

What is the difference between which and that in a statement?

Answer 1

WhichThe term "which" is used in sentences containing non-restrictive or relative clauses. This refers to cases where additional information is supplied about a person or object in the sentence. You can remove the clause without changing the meaning of the main clause.Example 1:"I would like to buy the cake,whichcontains the yellow frosting."For this particular sentence, you are referring to only one cake. In this case, it's the one with the yellow frosting.Example 2:"The play,whichwas performed in the Broadway theatre, was a huge success."In this sentence, the writer assumes that the reader is already familiar with the play that is being discussed. You can remove the term"which" and still retain the same meaning.ThatYou should use the term "that" with sentences that contain restrictive clauses. If you remove the clause from these particular clauses, the meaningof the sentence will be changed.Example 1:"I would like to buy the cakethatcontains the yellow frosting."This means that you want the specific cake with the yellow frosting, rather than any cake. If you remove the restrictive clause that from the sentence, it will change the meaning entirely.Example 2:"The playthatwas performed in the Broadway theatre was a huge success."This sentence is describing the play because the writer assumes that the reader will not know which one it is. You can't remove the word "that" without changing the meaning of the sentence so you know you're using the correct term.