In English, we often come across sentences like: “You should consult the books ( ) you regard as reliable.” This sentence leaves a blank space where a relative pronoun should go. The question arises, why do we use ‘that’ in this case and not ‘which’ or another word? In this article, we will explore why ‘that’ is the correct choice and why ‘which’ doesn’t work in this particular context.
Understanding ‘Regard A as B’ and Its Structure
When we use the phrase ‘regard A as B,’ it means we consider or view A to be B. This expression has a structure where ‘A’ is the subject or thing we are looking at, and ‘B’ is the characteristic or classification we assign to it. For example, in the sentence “I regard this book as important,” the speaker views the book as important.
Why ‘That’ Is Used in Relative Clauses
In the sentence “You should consult the books ( ) you regard as reliable,” the phrase “you regard as reliable” is a relative clause describing the books. The relative pronoun ‘that’ is commonly used in restrictive clauses (which provide essential information) when the noun is indefinite or when the sentence is general. In this case, ‘that’ connects the main clause with the restrictive relative clause.
For example:
- “You should consult the books that you regard as reliable.”
- “I love the movies that make me laugh.”
Here, ‘that’ introduces essential information to define which books (or movies) are being referred to.
Why ‘Which’ Doesn’t Fit Here
Although ‘which’ is also a relative pronoun, it is used in non-restrictive clauses, which provide extra, non-essential information. Non-restrictive clauses are typically separated by commas and are used to add information that could be omitted without changing the sentence’s core meaning.
If we were to use ‘which’ in the sentence “You should consult the books which you regard as reliable,” it would imply that the clause is non-restrictive, which isn’t the case here. The sentence requires ‘that’ because it specifies which books the speaker is referring to — only those regarded as reliable.
Examples of Correct and Incorrect Usage
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:
- Correct: “The books that you regard as reliable are the ones you should consult.”
- Incorrect: “The books which you regard as reliable are the ones you should consult.”
- Correct (with non-restrictive clause): “The books, which you regard as reliable, are on the shelf.”
As shown, ‘that’ is used for essential information, while ‘which’ is reserved for adding extra, non-essential information.
Summary
In conclusion, when you encounter the phrase ‘regard A as B,’ the correct relative pronoun to use in a restrictive clause is ‘that.’ It is essential for specifying which thing you are referring to. On the other hand, ‘which’ is used for non-restrictive clauses that provide additional information, but do not change the core meaning of the sentence.
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