Thanks for the explanation and examples, Jyqm!
I would have chosen correctly in most of your examples, just using my ear, and not the rules, so perhaps the instances in which I am confused are actually ones in which "which" would be as appropriate as "that".
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Originally Posted by Jyqm
I think "that" and "which," at this point, are acceptably interchangeable in most cases. There is a distinction, but I think even grammar books these days recognize that it's not really worth making.
"That" is actually a fairly tricky word. There are four uses of it:
1) as a noun/pronoun. "That is one of my favorite songs."
2) as a determiner. "That pie is tastier than the others."
3) as a conjunction. "I think even most grammar books these days recognize that it's not really worth making."
4) as a relative pronoun. "I used to put up with her attitude, but telling me I look fat was the straw that broke the camel's back." (This is the one that is sometimes interchangeable with "which.")
I think the general rule for that/which is that if the clause is absolutely necessary for the sentence to make sense, use "that."
"Dogs that bite are dangerous." If you take out the clause "that bite," the sentence doesn't mean the same thing anymore: "Dogs are dangerous." So you use "that."
"The article, which talks about the dangers of owning large dogs, was printed in Sunday's paper." This sentence still makes sense and means the same thing if you take out the clause: "The article was printed in Sunday's paper." So you use "which," and you also usually separate the clause with commas.
I think that's the rule, anyway.
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