Please help explain this for me

Question

Baek said he was uncomfortable, given that anti-Asian hate crimes that have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to police data.

Is it correct to put a noun after "given that" like this sentence?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

kimsohyangIs it correct to put a noun after "given that" like this sentence?

The noun isn't a problem. (I assume the noun you're referring to is anti-Asian hate crimes.) The problem is the fact that you don't have a full clause after given that.

anti-Asian hate crimes that have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic is not a complete clause. that have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic is a relative clause that modifies anti-Asian hate crimes, so you're left with a big noun phrase (the noun and its modifier) rather than with a full clause.

Remove that after anti-Asian hate crimes, and it will be OK.

Baek said he was uncomfortable, given that anti-Asian hate crimes have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to police data.

An alternate solution, but not as good in my opinion, is to change given that to given the.

Baek said he was uncomfortable, given the anti-Asian hate crimes that have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to police data.

CJ

Please help explain this for me

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