When do you use 'who' instead of 'that' in a sentence?

Answer 1

If the speaker is refering to a person, use "who". If the object is a thing, use "that" . I would like a further definition. Do animals and living things get the "who" in a sentence or are they considered to be a "thing"?

Answer 2

who is used as a subject: Who is that girl? whom is used as an object: 1. Whom shall I see about this problem? 2. The man whom you saw is my father. Who is in the nominative case while whom is in the objective case.

Answer 3

The words can be used in many of the same contexts, the difference being that WHICH introduces subsidiary or new information (non-restrictive clause), while THAT narrows the existing information to make the indicated object or event clear (restrictive clause). WHICH often uses a comma to set off its non-restrictive clause.

Examples :
The boat that we used for fishing was very old. (narrows the particular boat)
The boat, which we used for fishing, was very old. (tells more about a certain old boat)

It was his known habit of drunk driving that caused the crash. (specifies the action)
His known habit, which was drunk driving, caused the crash. (expounds on what the habit was)

Answer 4

You use "which" if the information in the subordinate clause is non-essential to the meaning of the sentence, and you use "that" if the meaning is essential.

Be careful, though, that you never use either "which" when you are referring to a person. In such instances you would use "who."

Answer 5

In something like..."Who is you favourite movie star??" you don't say whom is you favourite movie star!! ;]

Answer 6

who