PrintWe use who when referring to people. We use which or that when referring to things or to animals.

  • Alice sings well. She has won a prize.
  • Alice, who sings well, has won a prize.
  • The airplane was grounded. It had engine trouble.
  • The airplane, which had engine trouble, was grounded.
  • The dress was bought yesterday. It is made of expensive cloth.
  • The dress, which was bought yesterday, is made of expensive cloth.

Notes:

We can use that in place of whom when referring to people.

  • The man that the police is looking for is dead. (= The man, whom the police is looking for, is dead.)

Notice that no commas are necessary, when we use that.

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