about " THAT " as a relative pronoun

Question

Hi there.Could you tell me whether the following sentence is correct or not?Ms. Helen, that is retiring from GM, will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.Some say " that " can't be used right after ", (comma)" whereas some say it is correct since it the clause is connected with two commas.I really wonder whose opinion is right.Thank you for your help.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

No, it's not correct. This one is fine. The commas indicate a non-restrictive clause. A non-restrictive clause is a clause that is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

Ms. Helen, who is retiring from GM, will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.

Below are examples of a restrictive clause. Commas are not correct.

The student who answers the question correctly first will not have to do their homework today.
Men that get up early are healthy, wealthy and wise.

Anonymous · Answer

If I omit the commas in the sentence, is it accurate then?

(Thanks a lot)

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousIf I omit the commas in the sentence, is it accurate then?(Thanks a lot)

Ms. Helen, who is retiring from GM, will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.

Accurate means factually correct. If Ms. Helen never worked for GM or will never give a lecture, the sentence would be inaccurate no matter if you have the commas or not.

The sentence is grammatically correct with the commas. The information about her retirement is incidental to the meaning of the sentence, so it must be set off with commas. That means that the whole clause can be deleted, and the sentence is still accurate.

Ms. Helen, who is retiring from GM, will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.
Ms. Helen will be delivering a lecture tomorrow. (You don't need the information that Ms. Helen is retiring.)

Compare with a restrictive clause:

The lady that is retiring from GM will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.
The lady will be delivering a lecture tomorrow. (This sentence is inaccurate because you have left out the information which tells us which lady it is. That information is necessary for the meaning of the sentence.)

Another example:
The student who answers the question correctly first will not have to do their homework today.
The student will not have to do their homework today. (This sentence is inaccurate because only one student will be excused from homework, and you have left out the information which tells us which student it is.)

RandomGuy · Answer

AnonymousMs. Helen, that is retiring from GM, will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.

This is not correct. Only a wh relative word is possible in non-restrictive clauses, in this case who.

AnonymousIf I omit the commas in the sentence, is it correct then?

No. You can’t use a restrictive clause to modify a proper NP like Ms. Helen, unless there are several Helens you could be talking about and you need to make clear which one you mean. In such a context you would need to use the definite article before the name:

- Ms. Helen will be delivering a lecture tomorrow.
- Which Ms. Helen?
- The Ms. Helen that/who is retiring from GM.

Anonymous · Answer

I see your point.
The more I study English, the harder it is...

You saved me and I really appreciate it.

about " THAT " as a relative pronoun

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