Relative Pronouns Which vs That

A relative pronoun is used to join a dependent clause to its antecedent in the independent clause.

The relative pronouns are who, whom, which, that, and whose.

Ex. The student who earned first place received a scholarship.

• Independent clause: The student received a scholarship

• Dependent clause: who earned first place

Who and whom refer to people. Who is used when the pronoun is the subject in the dependent clause, and whom is used when the pronoun is the object.

• Ex. The person who called you was a salesman.

• Ex. She wrote to the person whom she had met last month.

Which refers to animals, places, or things (NEVER people). That can be used to refer to people, animals, places, or things, but never a specific person, only a group of people or type of person.

• Ex. Gary lost the key which you had given him.

• Ex. The students that were absent had a different assignment.

Whose shows possession or ownership.

• Ex. The family whose house burnt in the fire was given a complimentary hotel suite.

  
  

​Which vs That

"That" is used to indicate a specific object, item, person, condition, etc.
"Which" is used to add information about objects, items, people, situations, etc.

When to use which or that in a sentence

That gives us information we need to understand the sentence.

Which gives us information that is not necessary to understand the sentence.

Helpful reminder

​When you think of which-think of a sandwich wrapper that can be thrown away.

The bike, which was blue, was parked in our yard.

The bike that was parked in our yard is blue.

Multiple Select

Which of the following is an example of a relative pronoun?

• that

• it

• which

• this

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: The book _______ I borrowed from the library was very interesting.

• which

• whom

• where

• that

Drag and Drop

The new gym ​

Placeholder

has twelve racquetball courts is only five minutes from my house.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

which

who

whom

that

Poll

How are you feeling about using that versus which?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences uses a relative pronoun correctly?

• Brad’s sweater that has fancy elbow pads was a birthday gift from his sister.

• Brad’s sweater, which has fancy elbow pads, was a birthday gift from his sister.

• Brad’s sweater who has fancy elbow pads was a birthday gift from his sister.

• Brad’s sweater has fancy elbow pads was a birthday gift from his sister.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: This is the house _______ my grandparents used to live in.

• that

• which

• when

• who

Multiple Choice

Identify the mistake in the sentence: The boy, that is my best friend, is coming over for dinner.

• The mistake is the use of 'that' instead of 'where'.

• The mistake is the use of 'that' instead of 'whose'.

• The mistake is the use of 'that' instead of 'whom'.

• The mistake is the use of 'that' instead of 'who'.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: The person _______ I spoke to on the phone was very helpful.

• who

• which

• that

• whom

Drag and Drop

Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence. The house, ​

Placeholder

is located near the park, is for sale.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

who

that

whom

which

Multiple Choice

Kyle knows a man ......... sister works for the president.

• who

• whose

• that

• whom

Multiple Choice

Students ............study hard will get good grade.

• who

• whose

• why

• whom

Poll

How are you feeling about using that versus which?

Multiple Choice

We visit our relatives .......live in another country every other year.

• whose

• who

• where

• whom

Drag and Drop

My husband convinced me to watch ​

Placeholder

movie ​

Placeholder

won the award.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

which

when

where

that

Multiple Choice

The lucky people .......names are on the list will join the special party with the artists.

• which

• who

• whose

• that

Multiple Choice

She had a feeling ........something bad will happen.

• why

• that

• who

• which

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Cleo and Cindy, which are twins, both want to be doctors someday.

• Cleo and Cindy, whom are twins, both want to be doctors someday.

• Cleo and Cindy, who are twins, both want to be doctors someday.

• Cleo and Cindy, whose are twins, both want to be doctors someday.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Would you please tell me to who I am to give this money?

• Would you please tell me to which I am to give this money?

• Would you please tell me to that I am to give this money?

• Would you please tell me to whom I am to give this money?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is correct?

• Will's blue jeans, which his mom had bought for him a week ago, already have a hole in them.

• Will's blue jeans, who his mom had bought for him a week ago, already have a hole in them.

• Will's blue jeans, that his mom had bought for him a week ago, already have a hole in them.

• Will's blue jeans, whom his mom had bought for him a week ago, already have a hole in them.

Multiple Choice

I met the woman...husband is a famous actor.

• that

• whom

• whose

• which

Multiple Choice

He liked the girl...he met at the school.

• who

• whom

• that

• which

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is WRONG?

• On the news, the reporter said Chairman Arafat died of natural causes.

• On the news, it said that Chairman Arafat died of natural causes.

• The news that Chairman Arafat died of natural causes was first reported on NBC.

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is WRONG?

• After sending a break-up text, Jesse mixed old mayonnaise into his potato salad which was disgusting!

• After sending a break up text, Jesse mixed old mayonnaise into his potato salad that was disgusting!

Drag and Drop

The car I ordered, ​

Placeholder

is being built February 7, should come at the beginning of next month.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

that

which

who

where

Drag and Drop

The ice cream flavor ​

Placeholder

I like the best is chocolate caramel cappuccino crunch.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

that

which

who

Drag and Drop

The books ​

Placeholder

my father brought aren't interesting.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

who

whose

which

that

Multiple Choice

This is the dog _____ bit my hand.

• who

• whose

• which

• that