That Vs Which..............How and when to use?

Expert replies

kaudes11114: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:06 am

by kaudes11114 » Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:34 am

As a result of a supernova explosion, every human being on Earth was bombarded on February 23, 1987, by about 100 billion neutrinos; fortunately, neutrinos are harmless elementary particles that are produced in nuclear reactions and that interact very weakly with matter.

1. neutrinos are harmless elementary particles that are produced in nuclear reactions and that
2. neutrinos, which are harmless, are elementary particles produced in nuclear reactions and which
3. neutrinos are harmless elementary particles produced in nuclear reactions and which
4. these harmless elementary particles are produced in nuclear reactions, and neutrinos
5. these elementary particles, harmless products of nuclear reactions, are neutrinos that

I am really confused between A and C
Why which can not be used in this case?
Please Help.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:34 am

AnjaliOberoi: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 223; Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:22 amFollowed by: 8 members; Thanked: 12 times

by AnjaliOberoi » Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:56 am

That-- refers essential part/restrictive pronoun
which -- non essential, can be removed /non restrictive

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:28 am

AnjaliOberoi wrote:That-- refers essential part/restrictive pronoun
which -- non essential, can be removed /non restrictive

Yep.

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/educat ... sus-that-0

Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:50 pm

Hi kaudes11114,

Here's another way to think about the words "that" vs. "which"; its' about "specific" vs. "non-specific/vague"

Given a choice between those options, the word "that" is used to emphasize a specific noun.

eg. The student preferred to attend THAT school.

The word "which" is used to avoid specifics and keep an idea vague.

eg. The student wasn't sure WHICH day would be best for his GMAT exam.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

parveen110: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 91; Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:34 am; Thanked: 7 times

by parveen110 » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:26 pm

Whts the correct answer to the question??

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:33 am

parveen110 wrote:Whts the correct answer to the question??

Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:24 pm

Hi parveen110,

Since the sentence refers to a specific noun (neutrinos) and specific details about them (they're "harmless elementary particles" and they "interact very weakly with matter"), the word "that" fits (and "which" does not).

Final Answer: A

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

ankushtulips: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 20; Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:46 am; Thanked: 1 times

by ankushtulips » Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:02 am

Manhattan guide states that the word that cannot refer to a plural antecedent.
Isn't it contrary to OA : A.

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:15 pm

ankushtulips wrote:Manhattan guide states that the word that cannot refer to a plural antecedent.
Isn't it contrary to OA : A.

In this sentence, "that" is used as a relative pronoun to link the relative clause to the noun "particles". Since "particles" agrees with "are produced", it is fine.

I'm not sure what the Manhattan guide says, but it might be referring to using "that" as an adjective, in which case it must be used with a singular noun. That musician, not that musicians.

Join Veritas Prep’s 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 67 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review