Who vs Which vs That: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
Who" is used for people, "which" is used for things, while "that" can be used in defining relative clauses for both people and things.
Memory Tip: who = people, which = things, that = both
who starts with /h/, which starts with /w/
who /huː/
pronoun"Who" is used to ask about a person.
Example:
The woman who helped me find my way was very kind.
Common patterns:
who knows
who cares
who else
which /wɪtʃ/
pronoun"Which" is used to ask about one or more things from a group.
Example:
I bought a new phone which has a great camera for taking photos.
Common patterns:
Which one?
Which do you like?
that /ðæt/
pronounUsed to refer to a specific thing or person that is not near the speaker.
Example:
I remember the day that we first met; it was raining heavily.
Common patterns:
that is
that one
Common Mistakes
The book who I borrowed was fascinating.
The book which I borrowed was fascinating.
"Which" is used for things, like a book.
She is the one which called me last night.
She is the one who called me last night.
"Who" is used for people, like 'she' in this sentence.
Quick Practice
0/3 correct1. The woman ____ helped me find my way was very kind.
2. I bought a new phone ____ has a great camera for taking photos.
3. I remember the day ____ we first met; it was raining heavily.
Other Confusing Words
Never confuse who / which / that again
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