Comma Before Which or That: 100 Clear Examples, Rules, Tips for Exams

Understanding the correct use of a comma before which or that is essential for clear writing and high scores in competitive exams. Many students get confused about when to use a comma and when to avoid it. This guide explains simple rules, provides 100 examples, and shares practical tips for error-free English.

Introduction to Comma Before Which or That

The topic comma before which or that is one of the most common grammar doubts among students and exam aspirants. Many candidates lose marks in competitive exams due to incorrect punctuation. Knowing when to place a comma before “which” and when not to use a comma before “that” can improve writing clarity and grammar accuracy.

Basic Rule: Comma Before Which or That

1. Comma Before “Which”

Use a comma before “which” when it introduces non-essential (non-defining) information. The sentence remains complete even if the clause is removed.

Structure:
Main clause + comma + which + extra information

Example:
The car, which is parked outside, belongs to my uncle.

2. No Comma Before “That”

Do not use a comma before “that” when it introduces essential (defining) information. The clause is necessary to identify the noun.

Structure:
Main clause + that + essential information

Example:
The car that is parked outside belongs to my uncle.

100 Examples of Comma Before Which or That

Here are 100 clear examples showing correct usage of comma before “which” (non-defining clause) and no comma before “that” (defining clause).

Comma Before “Which” (Non-Defining Clauses)

1. The car, which is parked outside, belongs to my uncle.
2. The book, which I bought yesterday, is very helpful.
3. The house, which was built in 1985, needs renovation.
4. The teacher, which should be who, explained the topic clearly.
5. The movie, which we watched last night, was inspiring.
6. The river, which flows through the town, is polluted.
7. The laptop, which cost a fortune, stopped working.
8. The garden, which is full of roses, looks beautiful.
9. The exam, which was very tough, lasted three hours.
10. The train, which arrived late, caused confusion.
11. The building, which stands near the park, is historic.
12. The painting, which was stolen, has been recovered.
13. The bus, which was overcrowded, broke down.
14. The bridge, which connects two cities, is closed.
15. The meeting, which lasted two hours, ended peacefully.
16. The report, which was submitted late, was rejected.
17. The school, which was established in 1950, is famous.
18. The phone, which has a cracked screen, still works.
19. The company, which started in 2001, is successful.
20. The policy, which was announced yesterday, is effective.
21. The city, which is known for its culture, attracts tourists.
22. The cake, which was baked this morning, tastes fresh.
23. The shirt, which I wore yesterday, is missing.
24. The stadium, which can hold 50,000 people, is full.
25. The program, which aired last night, received praise.
26. The road, which leads to the village, is damaged.
27. The bag, which contains important documents, is safe.
28. The laptop, which belongs to me, is on the table.
29. The pen, which writes smoothly, is expensive.
30. The hotel, which overlooks the beach, is luxurious.
31. The article, which was published today, is informative.
32. The dress, which she bought online, fits perfectly.
33. The museum, which houses rare artifacts, is crowded.
34. The library, which opens at 9 a.m., is quiet.
35. The shop, which sells organic food, is popular.
36. The project, which took months to finish, was approved.
37. The park, which is near my house, is clean.
38. The flight, which was delayed, has arrived.
39. The shopkeeper, which is incorrect usage, should be who.
40. The bus stop, which is across the road, is busy.
41. The river, which flooded last year, has dried up.
42. The child, which is incorrect here, should be who.
43. The building, which collapsed during the storm, was old.
44. The event, which was well organized, attracted many guests.
45. The book, which won an award, is worth reading.
46. The course, which starts next week, is full.
47. The speaker, which should be who, delivered a strong message.
48. The tree, which was planted years ago, is tall.
49. The phone, which rang suddenly, startled me.
50. The document, which contains details, is confidential.

No Comma Before “That” (Defining Clauses)

51. The car that is parked outside belongs to my uncle.
52. The book that I bought yesterday is helpful.
53. The house that was built in 1985 needs renovation.
54. The movie that we watched last night was inspiring.
55. The river that flows through the town is polluted.
56. The laptop that cost a fortune stopped working.
57. The garden that is full of roses looks beautiful.
58. The exam that was very tough lasted three hours.
59. The train that arrived late caused confusion.
60. The building that stands near the park is historic.
61. The painting that was stolen has been recovered.
62. The bus that was overcrowded broke down.
63. The bridge that connects two cities is closed.
64. The meeting that lasted two hours ended peacefully.
65. The report that was submitted late was rejected.
66. The school that was established in 1950 is famous.
67. The phone that has a cracked screen still works.
68. The company that started in 2001 is successful.
69. The policy that was announced yesterday is effective.
70. The city that is known for its culture attracts tourists.
71. The cake that was baked this morning tastes fresh.
72. The shirt that I wore yesterday is missing.
73. The stadium that can hold 50,000 people is full.
74. The program that aired last night received praise.
75. The road that leads to the village is damaged.
76. The bag that contains important documents is safe.
77. The laptop that belongs to me is on the table.
78. The pen that writes smoothly is expensive.
79. The hotel that overlooks the beach is luxurious.
80. The article that was published today is informative.
81. The dress that she bought online fits perfectly.
82. The museum that houses rare artifacts is crowded.
83. The library that opens at 9 a.m. is quiet.
84. The shop that sells organic food is popular.
85. The project that took months to finish was approved.
86. The park that is near my house is clean.
87. The flight that was delayed has arrived.
88. The building that collapsed during the storm was old.
89. The event that was well organized attracted many guests.
90. The book that won an award is worth reading.
91. The course that starts next week is full.
92. The tree that was planted years ago is tall.
93. The phone that rang suddenly startled me.
94. The document that contains details is confidential.
95. The student that scored highest received a prize.
96. The car that needs repair is mine.
97. The teacher that explained the topic is absent.
98. The officer that handled the case retired.
99. The employee that joined recently is efficient.
100. The candidate that prepared well cleared the exam.

Important Tips for Competitive Exams

1. Remember this shortcut:
   “Which” usually follows a comma.
   “That” usually does not.
2. In error detection questions, check whether the clause is essential. If yes, remove the comma.
3. If removing the clause does not change the basic meaning, use a comma with “which.”
4. Many exams like SSC, Banking, UPSC, Railways, and State PSC include punctuation-based questions.
5. Avoid overusing commas. Wrong comma placement can change meaning.
6. In formal writing, prefer “that” for defining clauses.
7. Read the sentence aloud. If there is a natural pause and extra information, a comma before “which” may be correct.

Common Mistakes

• Using a comma before “that.”
• Using “which” without a comma in non-defining clauses.
• Confusing essential and non-essential clauses.
• Using “which” instead of “who” for persons.

FAQs on Comma Before Which or That

1. Should we always use a comma before which?

No. A comma is used before “which” only when the clause is non-essential. If it is defining information, no comma is needed.

2. Can we use a comma before that?

Generally, no. “That” introduces essential clauses and should not have a comma before it.

3. Which is correct in competitive exams: which or that?

Both are correct depending on usage. However, exams often test whether you know that defining clauses use “that” without a comma.

4. Why is this topic important for exams?

Punctuation errors are common in English sections. Correct understanding improves accuracy in error detection and sentence improvement questions.

Conclusion on Comma Before Which or That

Mastering the rules of comma before which or that helps improve writing clarity and exam performance. Students preparing for competitive exams should practice identifying essential and non-essential clauses. With proper understanding and regular practice, punctuation errors can be easily avoided.

Disclaimer on Comma Before Which or That

Grammar usage may vary slightly between British and American English styles. Students should follow the style guide recommended in their specific examination syllabus.

Also Read: Imperative Sentence Examples: 100 Clear and Practical Sentences for Students

Past Continuous Tense Usage: Rules, Examples, Tips and Practice Sentences

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