Confusable pair · B2
That or which?
Use that when the clause identifies which one you mean, and use which, with a comma, when the clause only adds extra information. The house that we bought in 1990 tells you which house. The house, which we bought in 1990, is falling down assumes you already know the house and simply adds a fact about it.
Which word, and why
- that
identifies which one — no comma
Introduces a clause the sentence needs in order to say which thing it means.
the one that broke · everything that matters
- which
adds extra information — comma before it
Introduces a clause that could be removed without changing which thing is meant.
the report, which was late · , which is why
Now use it
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The document they sent this morning is the wrong version.