Difference Between Which and That: Easy Guide with 100 Examples

Introduction: Difference Between Which and That

English learners often struggle with the difference between which and that. These two relative pronouns look similar but have different uses in grammar. Knowing when to use which and when to use that can make your writing clear, correct, and professional. This guide explains the difference, provides 100 examples with meanings, and gives useful tips for students and exam aspirants.

Main Difference Between Which and That

That → Used in defining (restrictive) clauses. It gives essential information about the noun.
Which → Used in non-defining (non-restrictive) clauses. It adds extra, non-essential information.

Quick Formula:

That = essential information
Which = extra information

100 Examples of Difference Between Which and That with Meanings

Here are 100 clear examples to help you understand:

1–20: Everyday Life

The book that is on the table is mine. (Essential – identifies the book)
The book, which is on the table, is mine. (Extra detail – not essential)
The phone that I bought yesterday is expensive.
The phone, which I bought yesterday, is expensive.
The dress that she wore was beautiful.
The dress, which she wore at the party, was beautiful.
The bag that you left is in my car.
The bag, which you left, is in my car.
The pen that he gave me is blue.
The pen, which he gave me, is blue.
The road that leads to the city is blocked.
The road, which leads to the city, is blocked.
The shoes that fit you are expensive.
The shoes, which fit you, are expensive.
The movie that we watched was interesting.
The movie, which we watched yesterday, was interesting.
The train that arrives at 5 is late.
The train, which arrives at 5, is late.
The cat that is sleeping is mine.
The cat, which is sleeping, is mine.

21–40: Work & Study

The assignment that you submitted was correct.
The assignment, which you submitted, was correct.
The teacher that explained the topic is kind.
The teacher, which explained the topic, is kind.
The project that I started is successful.
The project, which I started, is successful.
The job that he applied for is tough.
The job, which he applied for, is tough.
The file that you need is on the desk.
The file, which you need, is on the desk.
The exam that students fear is tomorrow.
The exam, which students fear, is tomorrow.
The pen that writes smoothly is costly.
The pen, which writes smoothly, is costly.
The article that I wrote was published.
The article, which I wrote, was published.
The course that I joined is online.
The course, which I joined, is online.
The notes that are in the bag are important.
The notes, which are in the bag, are important.

41–60: Travel & Places

The bus that stops here goes to Hyderabad.
The bus, which stops here, goes to Hyderabad.
The road that we traveled was long.
The road, which we traveled, was long.
The hotel that we stayed in was clean.
The hotel, which we stayed in, was clean.
The train that runs fast is delayed.
The train, which runs fast, is delayed.
The airport that is nearby is closed.
The airport, which is nearby, is closed.
The bridge that connects two towns is strong.
The bridge, which connects two towns, is strong.
The temple that is famous is crowded.
The temple, which is famous, is crowded.
The restaurant that serves biryani is popular.
The restaurant, which serves biryani, is popular.
The park that children love is open.
The park, which children love, is open.
The city that never sleeps is Mumbai.
The city, which never sleeps, is Mumbai.

61–80: Technology & Gadgets

The laptop that you ordered is fast.
The laptop, which you ordered, is fast.
The phone that I lost was new.
The phone, which I lost, was new.
The computer that is old runs slowly.
The computer, which is old, runs slowly.
The app that helps students is free.
The app, which helps students, is free.
The website that you opened is safe.
The website, which you opened, is safe.
The printer that we bought is working.
The printer, which we bought, is working.
The watch that he is wearing is smart.
The watch, which he is wearing, is smart.
The earphones that she bought are black.
The earphones, which she bought, are black.
The charger that I lost was new.
The charger, which I lost, was new.
The TV that we purchased is big.
The TV, which we purchased, is big.

81–100: Mixed Examples

The book that explains grammar is useful.
The book, which explains grammar, is useful.
The boy that plays cricket is tall.
The boy, which plays cricket, is tall.
The girl that sings well won the prize.
The girl, which sings well, won the prize.
The car that is red belongs to him.
The car, which is red, belongs to him.
The song that you sang was beautiful.
The song, which you sang, was beautiful.
The teacher that guides us is strict.
The teacher, which guides us, is strict.
The shop that sells books is open.
The shop, which sells books, is open.
The man that came yesterday is my uncle.
The man, which came yesterday, is my uncle.
The festival that we celebrate is Diwali.
The festival, which we celebrate, is Diwali.
The food that tastes good is healthy.
The food, which tastes good, is healthy.

Important Tips for Students & Exam Candidates

Use that in defining clauses (no commas).
Use which in non-defining clauses (with commas).
In formal exams (like IELTS, SSC, UPSC, Bank exams), using that vs which incorrectly can change sentence meaning.
Remember: That = necessary info, Which = extra info.
Always check punctuation: That → no commas, Which → with commas.

FAQs on Difference Between Which and That

Q1: What is the main difference between which and that?
Ans: That defines essential information, while which adds extra, non-essential details.

Q2: Can I use which instead of that in a sentence?
Ans: No, they are not always interchangeable. That is used without commas, which with commas.

Q3: Why is it important to know the difference between which and that?
Ans: It helps in writing clear, grammatically correct sentences, which is vital for students and competitive exam aspirants.

Conclusion: Difference Between Which and That

The difference between which and that lies in their usage in restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. Mastering this difference improves both spoken and written English, helping students, professionals, and exam candidates communicate with precision.

Disclaimer on Difference Between Which and That

This article is for educational purposes only. Rules of grammar may vary in informal usage, but for exams and professional writing, the guidelines above are recommended.

Also Read: How to Use Present Perfect in English: A Complete Guide with 100 Examples

Subject Verb Agreement Rules in English: 100 Examples with Meanings

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