ShmoopTube
Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.
Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos
Grammar Videos 59 videos
Want even more deets on grammar? Click here for all the goods.
Want even more deets on Fewer vs. Less? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.
Want even more deets on grammar? Click here for all the goods.
That vs. Which 729 Views
Share It!
Description:
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.
Related Videos
This video explains the difference between affect and effect and provide tips for remembering which is which and when to use each one. If you suffe...
Want even more deets on Question Marks? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.
Want even more deets on Your vs. You're? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.
What’s the difference between its and it’s (spoiler alert: it’s more than just an apostrophe). This video covers the use of both of these wor...