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That vs. Which 729 Views
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Want even more deets on That vs. Which? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.
Transcript
- 00:04
That versus Which, a la Shmoop. You forgot to buy your girlfriend a one-month
- 00:08
anniversary present that shows her how much she means to you.
- 00:14
She's now giving you the silent treatment, which is kind of nice...
- 00:17
...because it gives you a chance to learn the grammar rule for “that” versus “which”.
- 00:22
Lucky you. The rule is: use “that” before a restrictive
Full Transcript
- 00:26
clause in a sentence...
- 00:28
...and “which” before everything else. Now, if the words “restrictive clause”
- 00:36
have thrown you for a loop, don’t run screaming just yet. We wouldn’t leave you hangin’.
- 00:40
A “restrictive clause” is part of a sentence you can't cut out because it restricts the
- 00:45
noun. Let's look at some examples, while simultaneously
- 00:48
giving you advice on how to handle your angry girlfriend.
- 00:51
A bouquet that smells nice will please your girlfriend.
- 00:55
Tickets to One Direction that put her in the front row will please her more.
- 00:59
In these examples, the word “that” restricts what we are talking about. We're not just
- 01:04
talking about a bouquet...
- 01:05
...but a bouquet that smells nice.
- 01:08
We're not just talking about tickets to One Direction...
- 01:10
...but front-row tickets to One Direction. Even better. Or worse… depending on how
- 01:14
you feel about One Direction. The word “which” is nonrestrictive. This
- 01:19
means you could excise a “which” clause from a sentence...
- 01:23
...and the sentence's meaning wouldn't change.
- 01:25
For example, chocolate, which has a lot of calories, would make your girlfriend happy.
- 01:32
Dinner at that nice French restaurant downtown, which would be expensive, would also thrill
- 01:37
your girlfriend. If we cut the “which” clauses out of these
- 01:41
examples, we'd still be left with meaningful sentences. Chocolate would make your girlfriend
- 01:46
happy...
- 01:47
...the fact that chocolate has lots of calories is just added information.
- 01:51
Dinner at Chez Nom Nom would thrill your girlfriend...
- 01:55
...the fact that the meal would put a dent in your bank account is just gravy.
- 02:00
How do you remember when to use “that” and “which”? Just think of it this way...
- 02:04
...you could throw the “whiches” out of a sentence...
- 02:06
...and even burn them at the stake if you’d like...
- 02:09
...and the sentence's meaning wouldn't change. Now, not only are you armed with the “that”
- 02:13
versus “which” grammar rule...
- 02:15
...but you have some good advice on how to deal with your irate girlfriend.
- 02:17
Good luck. You’re gonna need it.
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