Friday, January 20

Grammar tips

Today we will continue our study of pronouns and relative clauses, exploring some differences between which and that.

Let’s take a look at this excerpt from yesterday’s newsletter: 

“(...) it also consolidated/solidified/cemented customary principles, such as the freedom of the seas, which must be observed by states in their shared use/joint use of maritime spaces (...).”

But do you know why we cannot use that in the same spot?

General Rule:

Both which and that refer to "things".

Specific rule:

(1) that is used in defining clauses to offer necessary information to describe the noun.

Ex. "The treaty that was signed last year entered into force this week."

(2) which is more commonly used in non-defining clauses, where the information offered is extra information and can be removed from the sentence without changing the overall meaning.

Ex. "(...) it also consolidated/solidified/cemented customary principles, such as the freedom of the seas, which must be observed by states in their shared use/joint use of maritime spaces (...)."

Note: that can NEVER be used in non-defining clauses; however, which can be used in both defining and non-defining clauses. But the preference is for that in defining clauses.

Right:

"The treaty that/which was signed last year entered into force this week."

Wrong:

"(...) it also consolidated/solidified/cemented customary principles, such as the freedom of the seas, that must be observed by states in their shared use/joint use of maritime spaces (...)."

Make sense? Let us know what you think about our grammar tips by sending an email to cadanewsletter@toddmarshall.com.br, or a comment to my Instagram account: @prof_todd_marshall. 

Or suggest a specific grammar point for future newsletters. We would love to hear your comments!