Why can't we use 'that' as a non restrivtive relative pronoun?
Hi teachers!
It may sound stupid but I have been wandering why we cannot use the relative pronoun 'that' as restrictive.
Please let me enlightened native teachers.
Many thanks in advance.
Top answer
Michelle Cha It may sound stupid but I have been w o ndering why we cannot use the relative pronoun 'that' as restrictive. You have this round the wrong way. It is "which" that, according to some people, should not be used in restrictive clauses.
- Michelle Cha It may sound stupid but I have been w o ndering why we cannot use the relative pronoun 'that' as restrictive.
- You have this round the wrong way.
- It is "which" that, according to some people, should not be used in restrictive clauses.
- This is a matter of opinion, or personal style, or possibly regional variation.
- So, some people might be happy with "the newspaper which I bought this morning", while others would say that it should be "the newspaper that I bought this morning".
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Michelle ChaIt may sound stupid but I have been wondering why we cannot use the relative pronoun 'that' as restrictive.
You have this round the wrong way. It is "which" that, according to some people, should not be used in restrictive clauses. This is a matter of opinion, or personal style, or possibly regional var
0Michelle ChaWhy can't we use 'that' as a non restrictive relative pronoun?
For the same reason we can't use 'Tuesday' to mean 'Thank you'. It's part of the meaning and use of the word.
0Michelle Chawhy we cannot use the relative pronoun 'that' as restrictive.
In American English, "that" is for restrictive clauses. "Which" is for non-restrictive clauses.
British English is a little more lax than American English.
Here are two very good discussions of these clauses and their subordinators (American English)
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