"Which" vs "That": The Rule for Extra and Necessary Information
Which vs that — the restrictive vs non-restrictive clause rule, comma usage, and when the choice changes meaning.
The book that I read was excellent.
The book, which I read last week, was excellent.
दोनों वाक्य एक किताब के बारे में हैं। लेकिन grammar अलग है — और फरक necessity और commas का है।
Restrictive clause identify करता है कि कौन सी specific चीज़ कही जा रही है। इसके बिना वाक्य का अर्थ अधूरा रहता है।
The car that is parked outside is mine.
“that is parked outside” के बिना, आपको पता नहीं कौन सी गाड़ी। Clause ज़रूरी है। कोई comma नहीं। That इस्तेमाल करें (AmE) या which (BrE)।
- कोई comma नहीं
- Noun को identify करने के लिए ज़रूरी
- That (AmE) या which (BrE)
Non-restrictive clause पहले से identified चीज़ के बारे में bonus जानकारी देता है। हटाने पर मुख्य बात रहती है।
My car, which is parked outside, needs washing.
पहले से पता है कौन सी गाड़ी (my car)। “which is parked outside” extra जानकारी है। हमेशा commas के साथ। हमेशा which — कभी “that” नहीं।
- हमेशा commas
- Extra, non-essential जानकारी
- हमेशा which (कभी “that” नहीं)
सबसे आसान तरीका:
- Commas चाहिए? → Which इस्तेमाल करें।
- कोई comma नहीं? → That इस्तेमाल करें।
पूछें: “अगर यह clause हटा दूँ, तो क्या वाक्य अभी भी सही चीज़ identify करता है?”
The car that is outside is mine. (हटाएँ → “The car is mine” — कौन सी? ज़रूरी → comma नहीं → that)
My car, which is outside, is red. (हटाएँ → “My car is red” — अभी भी clear। Extra → commas → which)
- American English: Strict फरक — restrictive के लिए “that,” non-restrictive के लिए “which”।
- British English: “Which” दोनों के लिए इस्तेमाल हो सकता है।
- भारतीय परीक्षाएँ: American distinction follow करें।
This is the best movie that I’ve ever seen.
All that glitters is not gold.
She was the only person that helped me.
| गलत | सही |
|---|---|
| My laptop, that cost ₹50,000, is slow. | My laptop, which cost ₹50,000, is slow. |
| The phone which I bought yesterday is great. | The phone that I bought yesterday is great. (AmE) |
- The book ___ I borrowed from the library was fascinating.
- My house ___ is near the market is very old.
- All ___ is needed is patience.
- that — restrictive (comma नहीं, कौन सी किताब identify करता है)
- which — non-restrictive (commas चाहिए: “My house, which is near the market, is very old”)
- that — “all” के बाद “that”
- Restrictive (ज़रूरी, comma नहीं) → that (या “which” BrE में)
- Non-restrictive (extra info, commas) → which ही
- Superlatives, “all,” “the only” के बाद → that
- Comma test: commas → which; कोई comma नहीं → that