ENGLISH RULES WHO THAT WHICH

Who, That, Which

Rule 1. Who and sometimes that refer to people. That and which refer to
groups or things.

Examples:
Anya is the one who rescued the bird.
"The Man That Got Away" is a great song with a grammatical title.

Lokua is on the team that won first place.

She belongs to a great organization, which specializes in saving
endangered species.

Rule 2a. That introduces what is called an essential clause (also known as
a restrictive or defining clause). Essential clauses add information that is
vital to the point of the sentence.

Example: I do not trust products that claim "all natural ingredients"

because this phrase can mean almost anything.
We would not know the type of products being discussed without
the that clause.

Rule 2b. Which introduces a nonessential clause (also known as

a nonrestrictive or nondefining clause), which adds supplementary
information.
 Example: The product claiming "all natural ingredients," which appeared
in the Sunday newspaper, is on sale.
The product is already identified. Therefore, which appeared in the
Sunday newspaper is a nonessential clause containing additional, but not
essential, information.

NOTE

Essential clauses do not have commas introducing or surrounding them,

whereas nonessential clauses are introduced or surrounded by commas.

Rule 3. If that has already appeared in a sentence, writers sometimes

use which to introduce the next clause, whether it is essential or nonessential.
This is done to avoid awkward formations.

Example: That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

This sentence is far preferable to the ungainly but technically correct That
that doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

NOTE

The distinction between that and which, though a useful guideline, is not
universally accepted as a hard-and-fast rule. For many centuries and up to the
present, which has been routinely used by great writers and journalists to
introduce essential clauses.
Who, Whom, That, Which Quiz
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

NOTE: This is one of a series of quizzes based on guidelines

endorsing that for restrictive (or essential) clauses and which for
nonrestrictive (or nonessential) clauses. These principles, first put
forward in the 1920s, are widely taught in America by traditional English
instructors, but are not necessarily the practice of all writers and
editors.

A) Ahmed is the skydiver, that broke his back last week.

B) Ahmed is the skydiver whom broke his back last week.

C) Ahmed is the skydiver who broke his back last week.

D) Ahmed is the skydiver which broke his back last week.

2.

A) Here is a problem who can’t be solved without a calculator.

B) Here is a problem that can’t be solved without a calculator.

C) Here is a problem which can’t be solved without a calculator.

D) Here is a problem whom can’t be solved without a calculator.

3.
 A) We have a city council who takes care of business.

B) We have a city council which takes care of business.

C) We have a city council that takes care of business.

4.

A) The domino theory, who stated that when one country fell to communism, others
likely fall, was used as an argument to continue the Vietnam War.

B) The domino theory, that stated that when one country fell to communism, others
likely fall, was used as an argument to continue the Vietnam War.

C) The domino theory, which stated that when one country fell to communism, othe
likely fall, was used as an argument to continue the Vietnam War.

D) The domino theory, whom stated that when one country fell to communism, othe
likely fall, was used as an argument to continue the Vietnam War.

5.

A) She’s the kind of person that expects everything to be perfect.

B) She’s the kind of person who expects everything to be perfect.

C) Both A and B are correct.

Who, Whom, That, Which Quiz
6.

A) Gandhi, whom was a role model for nonviolence to millions, was assassinated.

B) Gandhi, who was a role model for nonviolence to millions, was assassinated.

C) Gandhi, that was a role model for nonviolence to millions, was assassinated.

D) Gandhi, which was a role model for nonviolence to millions, was assassinated.

7.

A) The tomatoes that grow in her garden are unlike those you buy in a store.

B) The tomatoes, that grow in her garden, are unlike those you buy in a store.

C) The tomatoes which grow in her garden are unlike those you buy in a store.

8.

A) The tomatoes from her garden, that grew larger than those in the grocery store,

B) The tomatoes from her garden which grew larger than those in the grocery store
ripe.

C) The tomatoes from her garden, which grew larger than those in the grocery store
ripe.
9.

A) The baker which baked that bread should win an award.

B) The baker whom baked that bread should win an award.

C) The baker, that baked that bread, should win an award.

D) The baker who baked that bread should win an award.

10.

A) She is someone, that I care about.

B) She is someone, who I care about.

C) She is someone, whom I care about.

D) She is someone whom I care about.

Quiz Results
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

NOTE: This is one of a series of quizzes based on guidelines

endorsing that for restrictive (or essential) clauses and which for
nonrestrictive (or nonessential) clauses. These principles, first put
forward in the 1920s, are widely taught in America by traditional English
instructors, but are not necessarily the practice of all writers and
editors.

Correct Answer: C Ahmed is the skydiver who broke his back last week.

Explanation: who refers to people (“Ahmed”).

2.

Correct Answer: B Here is a problem that can’t be solved without a

calculator.

Explanation: that introduces essential clauses.

3.

Correct Answer: C We have a city council that takes care of business.

Explanation: see Explanation 2.

4.

Correct Answer: C The domino theory, which stated that when one
country fell to communism, others in the area would likely fall, was used as an
argument to continue the Vietnam War.
Explanation: which introduces nonessential clauses.

5.

Correct Answer: C Both A and B are correct.

Explanation: who refers to people; that may refer to people as well as things.

6.

Correct Answer: B Gandhi, who was a role model for nonviolence to

millions, was assassinated.

Explanation: who refers to people (“Gandhi”).

7.

Correct Answer: A The tomatoes that grow in her garden are unlike those
you buy in a store.

Explanation: see Explanation 2.

8.

Correct Answer: C The tomatoes from her garden, which grew larger than
those in the grocery store, were sweet and ripe.

Explanation: see Explanation 4.

9.

Correct Answer: D The baker who baked that bread should win an award.
Explanation: see Explanation 1.

10.

Correct Answer: D She is someone whom I care about.

Explanation: whom refers to people (“someone”).

Final Score: 0/10