That as a Relative Pronoun
Summary
Use the pronoun that to present information essential to the meaning of a sentence.
- He needs a phone that works.
He doesn’t need just any phone: he needs one that works. That introduces an essential description.
As a relative pronoun, that connects a relative clause to the noun it describes.
- This is the parcel that arrived this morning.
The noun (“the parcel”) is described by the relative clause introduced by that (“that arrived this morning”).
That is used as a relative pronoun in restrictive or defining clauses, which define something or narrow down a reference.
- These are the tasks that must be completed today.
The that clause defines the tasks and narrows them down to those that must be completed today.
Don’t use that to present extra, optional information; use which instead.
- Farley’s new phone, which/
thathe bought yesterday, has stopped working.We already know what is being referred to: Farley’s new phone. Use which instead of that to present the extra details enclosed in commas.
Don’t use a comma before that.
- Incorrect: The blue whale is the largest animal, that ever lived.
Correct: The blue whale is the largest animal that ever lived.
Both that and who can refer to people, although who is considered more formal.
- The woman who/that was sitting here left her bag behind.
That as a relative pronoun
Use the pronoun that to introduce a clause that defines and describes a person or a thing.
- The book that Maya wrote has just been published.
The clause “that Maya wrote” describes and defines “the book.”
- We would like to stay somewhere that is clean but not too expensive.
- She likes movies that make her think.
Such a clause, which describes a noun, is called a relative clause.
- Lulu wants jeans that make her look taller.
The relative clause (“that make her look taller”) describes the noun (“jeans”).
Relative pronouns like that connect relative clauses to the noun phrases they describe.
- Lulu wants jeans that make her look taller.
That acts as a pronoun by referring to the noun: Lulu wants jeans + the jeans make her look taller = Lulu wants jeans that make her look taller. It thus connects the description in the relative clause to the noun.
Other relative pronouns are which, who, whom, and whose. Like the word that, these pronouns connect relative clauses to nouns.
- Farley’s laptop, which he bought just yesterday, has stopped working.
- Lulu, who is an old friend of mine, is visiting from Spain.
- She is someone whom you can trust.
- This is the woman whose house we rented for our vacation.
In this article, we discuss how to use that correctly as a relative pronoun.
When to use that
Use that to present information essential to the meaning of a sentence. That introduces a clause that defines or identifies the person or thing being referred to.
- The laptop that I bought from you has stopped working.
Which laptop has stopped working? The one that I bought from you. The information introduced by that is essential to meaning. Without it, we would not know which laptop stopped working.
- The man that stole your car is an actor.
Which man is an actor? The one that stole your car.
- We sell shoes that are both stylish and comfortable.
The that clause defines the shoes.
- Maya wants to tell stories that matter.
- Eggs that are freshly laid sink in a bowl of water.
- The parcel that arrived this morning contained cheese. This is a problem that can never be solved.
The pronoun that introduces defining clauses, which define or identify the person or thing they describe. Such clauses are also called restrictive because they narrow down the identity to the description provided.
- Cats that like cheese love pizza.
Which cats love pizza? Those that like cheese. The that clause defines the cats we are talking about (cats that like cheese) or restricts their identity (to those that like cheese).
- Shoes that look good are never comfortable.
Which shoes are never comfortable? Those that look good.
Use of commas
Don’t use a comma before the pronoun that. Commas set off information that is extra or optional. A that clause provides information essential to meaning: details that identify or define the person or thing being talked about. Don’t enclose such a clause in commas.
- Incorrect: This is a movie, that will make you rethink your priorities.
Don’t use a comma before that, since it introduces information that defines the movie and is essential to meaning.Correct: This is a movie that will make you rethink your priorities.
- Incorrect: Food, that is tasty, can also be healthy.
The that clause tells us which food is being talked about. Don’t enclose it in commas.Correct: Food that is tasty can also be healthy.
- Incorrect: I want to go somewhere, that is warm this time of year.
Correct: I want to go somewhere that is warm this time of year. - Incorrect: Is this the book, that won the award?
Correct: Is this the book that won the award? - Incorrect: This is a problem, that needs to be solved.
Correct: This is a problem that needs to be solved. - Incorrect: This is something, that really happened.
Correct: This is something that really happened.
That vs. which
That always introduces a clause essential to meaning: it tells us whom or what is being referred to. To provide extra or optional information enclosed in commas, use which instead.
- Maya has finally found shoes that don’t hurt her feet.
Which shoes are we talking about? Those that don’t hurt her feet.Maya’s new shoes, which don’t hurt her feet at all, are both stylish and comfortable.It is already clear which shoes we are talking about: Maya’s new shoes. The pronoun which just presents extra information.
Use that in a defining or restrictive clause, and use which in non-defining, nonrestrictive clauses.
- Restrictive: I have a chair that swivels.
Nonrestrictive: This amazing chair, which not only swivels but also tilts, costs just twenty dollars. - Restrictive: Please read the reports that we published this morning.
Nonrestrictive: Please read the latest reports, which we published this morning.
Note that which can replace that in restrictive clauses (which help identify or define something).
- Restrictive: I need a chair that/which swivels.
- Restrictive: We tell stories that/which matter.
- Restrictive: I need a job that/which pays.
- Restrictive: We make chocolate that/which contains no calories.
However, that cannot replace which in nonrestrictive clauses (which provide extra information).
- Nonrestrictive: Poco bought me chocolate, which/
thatis interesting because he knows I’m allergic to cocoa. - Nonrestrictive: I love my new shoes, which/
thatare not just stylish but also comfortable.
In formal American usage, that is generally preferred over which in restrictive clauses. In contrast, in British usage, which replaces that in formal usage.
That vs. who
That can be used in place of who or whom to refer to people. Using that is less formal than using who/whom.
- Lulu is the one who/that sent the invitations.
- Is she the one who/that lost her cape?
- The man who/that called us yesterday is now at the door.
- The people whom/that you meet are all strangers.
It is sometimes thought that that can be used only for things and not for people. This understanding is incorrect. That is often used in relative clauses to refer to people, especially to groups or to unknown persons.
- The guy that called me said I should change my password.
- This is the story about a family that couldn’t sleep.
- I need to call someone that knows how to fix this.
Who is preferred over that to refer to people in formal usage.
- Informal: Your feedback is shared with the senator that represents you.
Formal: Your feedback is shared with the senator who represents you. - Informal: Is this the person that you wish to find?
Formal: Is this the person whom you wish to find?
Omission of that
The pronoun that can sometimes be omitted without loss of meaning, but not always. When that is not the subject of the relative clause it introduces, it can be omitted.
- The book (that) you wanted isn’t available.
The subject of the relative clause is you (“you wanted”), the word that appears before the verb wanted. The pronoun that is not the subject and can be omitted.Correct: The book you wanted isn’t available.
Here are some more sentences in which that is not the subject of the relative clause and can be omitted. Note how the subject is the word that appears before the verb.
- This is a story (that) everyone should hear.
- That’s the man (that) I was telling you about.
- These are some of the questions (that) we still need answered.
- The report (that) the government published this morning is now available for download.
However, when that is itself the subject of the relative clause, it cannot be omitted.
- This is the book that changed my life.
The subject of the relative clause is that (“that changed my life”). As the subject, it cannot be omitted.Incorrect: This is the book changed my life.
In the following sentences, that is the subject of the relative clause and cannot be omitted.
- This is a story that is not only inspiring but also true.
- The man that stole my purse also stole my keys.
- These are questions that were never answered.
- The report that was published this morning is now available for download.
Examples from literature
Here are some examples from writing that show how that is used in defining or restrictive clauses to introduce information essential to meaning. Note how commas are not used before that.
The best books . . . are those that tell you what you know already.
— George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)I define science fiction as fiction in which things happen that are not possible today – that depend, for instance, on advanced space travel, time travel, the discovery of green monsters on other planets or galaxies, or that contain various technologies we have not yet developed.
— Margaret Atwood, Writing with Intent (2005)Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
— James Baldwin, The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings (2010)Even now, traces of its earlier condition are to be found in the old oak copses and irregular belts of timber that yet survive upon its slopes, and the hollow-trunked trees that shade so many of its pastures.
— Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891)Of these death-white realms I formed an idea of my own: shadowy, like all the half-comprehended notions that float dim through children’s brains, but strangely impressive.
— Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1847)Ever so many books there were; but none that seemed exactly right to take to Evelyn Whitbread in her nursing home.
— Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway (1925)