punctuation - Comma and 'that' omissions in the sentence


I have four ways to write my sentence:


(comma separated)
The implementation, we have made before, may ...
The implementation, that we have made before, may ...


(without commas)
The implementation we have made before may ...
The implementation that we have made before may ...


Which one is correct and sounds more natural?
Which rules are applied here?
Should I use that here?


In my native language, the part which provides some additional information is always highlighted by commas. It looks logical and more readable for me.


Any assistance would be appreciated. I'll be grateful for a detailed explanation with related references.



Answer



Of the four structures given,



  1. *The implementation, we have made before, may ...

  2. *The implementation, that we have made before, may ...

  3. The implementation we have made before may ...

  4. The implementation that we have made before may ...


(1-2) are both ungrammatical (whence the asterisks) because commas make a normal
relative clause into a non-restrictive (parenthetical, supplementary) relative clause,
which



  • has different syntax from restrictive relative clauses,

  • requires a relative wh-pronoun (which, who, etc),
    which

    • can't ever be deleted like (1), and

    • can't ever use that like (2).




(3-4), on the other hand, are both grammatical because they are restrictive (normal, integrated) relative clauses, and thus are not subject to those restrictions. Restrictive relative clauses



  • are not set off with comma intonations at either end


  • are allowed to use either a wh-pronoun or that, regardless of the antecedent



    • The man that came to dinner broke his leg.

    • The man who came to dinner broke his leg.

    • The leg that he broke healed rapidly.

    • The leg which he broke healed rapidly.




  • are not required to have a relative pronoun at all, except as subject



    • *The man came to dinner broke his leg.

    • The leg he broke healed rapidly.




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