Recognizing Relative Clauses

That = who/which
We often use that instead of who or which, especially in an informal style. E.g. - I like people that smile a lot. - This is the key that opens the garage. - Do you remember the people that we met in Italy?

Use of that
That is common as a relative pronoun in identifying clauses. In non-identifying clauses, that is unusual. Compare 1 and 2: Example Question: Have you got a book which/that is really east to read? 1. I lent him Harry Potter, which is really easy to read. 2. NOT Harry Potter that is really easy to read.

Example from textbook (page 55 5:3) Think of a place (which/that) you constantly go.

In this case, the relative pronoun is not necessary thats why its in (brackets).

which referring to a whole clause

Which can refer not only to a noun, but also to the whole of a previous clause. (Note that what cannot be used in this way.)

E.g. 1 He got married again a year later, which surprised everybody. (NOT..., what surprised everybody.)

E.g. 2 She cycled from Busan to Seoul, which is pretty good for a woman of 75. (NOT She cycled, what is pretty good)