Appositives

Appositives

Practice identifying and punctuating appositives and appositive phrases.

Appositive

An appositive is a noun that is placed next to another noun to identify or add information about it.

Example: James Madison’s wife, Dolley, was a famous first lady.

The noun Dolley identifies the noun next to it, wife. In this sentence, Dolley is an appositive.

Appositive Phrases

An appositive phrase is a group of words that includes an appositive and other words that modify the appositive.

Example: Madison, our fourth president, held many other offices.

The words our and fourth modify the appositive president. The phrase our fourth president is an appositive phrase. It identifies the noun Madison.

Appositive Phrases

An appositive or an appositive phrase can appear anywhere in a sentence as long as it appears next to the noun it identifies.

Example: Our fourth president, Madison held many other offices.

Example: Many historians have studied the life of Madison, our fourth president.

Using Commas

Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off with commas.  If the appositive is essential to the meaning of the sentences, however, commas are not used.

Example: Madison’s friend Thomas Jefferson was president before Madison.

Obviously, Madison had more than one friend, so the appositive, Thomas Jefferson, is needed to identify this particular friend.  No commas are needed.

Example: Madison’s father, James Madison, was a plantation owner.

Madison only had one father.  The father’s name is not needed to identify him.  Therefore, commas are needed.

Use the Yes->No, No->Yes Rule

Ask two questions. If the answer to the first is "yes," the answer to the second is "no," and vice versa (the other way around).

First question: is the appositive (phrase) necessary in the sentence? Second question: are commas necessary around the word/phrase?

If there are multiple options, the phrase is necessary (yes), so commas are not necessary (no).

If there is only one option, the phrase is not necessary (no), so commas are necessary (yes). (most common)

Choose the Appositive (Phrase)

On the slides that follow, select the appropriate appositive (phrase) from the example sentence. Pay attention to how commas are used.

Multiple Choice

The teacher, Mrs. Smith, graded the test papers until early in the morning.

• The teacher

• Mrs. Smith

• graded the test papers until early in the morning

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The student Andrew would not stay in his seat.

• The student

• Andrew

• would not stay in his seat

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Ladie the dog jumped over the fence.

• Ladie

• the dog

• jumped over the fence

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The science experiment, a test on the amount of toxic gas in the air during 7th period, was very informative.

• The science experiment

• a test on the amount of toxic gas in the air during 7th period

• was very informative.

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Mrs. Casey’s second period class, the one with the most creative writers, has produced some very funny sentences.

• Mrs. Casey’s second period class

• the one with the most creative writers

• has produced some very funny sentences.

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

I asked the cashier for change, twenty dollars

• I asked

• the cashier for change

• twenty dollars

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

My friend Danielle loves English class so much.

• My friend

• Danielle

• loves English class so much

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The head principal, Ms. Youngblood, makes the morning announcements.

• The head principal

• Mrs. Youngblood

• makes the morning announcements

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Mr. Craycraft, a tireless educator at Thompson Middle School, helps in Mrs. Walton's and Mr. Casey's rooms.

• Mr. Craycraft

• a tireless educator at Thompson Middle School

• helps in Mrs. Walton's and Mr. Casey's rooms.

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The class with the most drama, sixth period, is a great way to end the day.

• The class with the most drama

• sixth period

• is a great way to end the day

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Mrs. Casey's fourth period, the class that makes animal noises, can sometimes sound like a zoo.

• Mrs. Casey's fourth period

• the class that makes animal noises

• can sometimes sound like a zoo

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Revenge, a show on ABC, is one of my favorites.

• Revenge

• a show on ABC

• is one of my favorites

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

On a vacation to the Dominican Republic, a beautiful and serene country, the Casey's relaxed last summer.

• On a vacation to the Dominican Republic

• a beautiful and serene country

• the Casey's relaxed last summer

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The students, the most successful in the class, were allowed to go on the field trip.

• The students

• the most successful in the class

• were allowed to go on the field trip

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The most beautiful cat in the world, Patches, was awarded a prize for her gorgeous appearance.

• The most beautiful cat in the world

• Patches

• was awarded a prize for her gorgeous appearance

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The baby smiled up at his mother.

• The baby

• smiled up at

• his mother

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

My aunt, the one in the winter coat, likes to go to church on Sundays.

• My aunt

• the one in the winter coat

• likes to go to church on Sundays

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Tommy, a constant issue at lunch, will not quit throwing food.

• Tommy

• a constant issue at lunch

• will not quit throwing food

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The candidate, Mr. Gingrich, gave a speech at the convention.

• The candidate

• Mr. Gingrich

• gave a speech at the convention

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Patches, the cat, was very sick earlier this year, but now she is much better.

• Patches

• the cat

• was very sick earlier this year, but now she is much better

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The grocery list, a bunch of items needed for the party, was left on the counter.

• The grocery list

• a bunch of items needed for the party

• was left on the counter

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The choir group, the one singing the hymn, sounded very peaceful.

• The choir group

• the one singing the hymn

• sounded very peaceful

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Heidi asked the waiter for the ticket, an estimate of the dinner's total.

• Heidi

• asked the waiter for the ticket

• an estimate of the dinner's total

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

"Firework," a very special song, was analyzed in English class.

• "Firework"

• a very special song

• was analyzed in English class

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Mrs. Casey's debate team, the one that meets on Tuesdays, has done well at all the tournaments.

• Mrs. Casey's debate team

• the one that meets on Tuesdays

• has done well at all the tournaments

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Captain America, a movie starring Chris Evans, has a lot of references to World War II.

• Captain America

• a movie starring Chris Evans

• has a lot of references to World War II

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

Zeke walked up the stairs several times each day.

• Zeke

• walked up the stairs

• several times each day

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

After a trip to the museum, a place that features many Indian artifacts, we had a history quiz.

• After a trip to the museum

• a place that features many Indian artifacts

• we had a history quiz

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The soloists, the best singers in class, were featured in the musical.

• The soloists

• the best singers in class

• were featured in the musical

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Multiple Choice

The head coordinator, Mary, was excited about the event.

• The head coordinator

• Mary

• was excited about the event

• There are no appositives in this sentence.

Good work!

Hopefully now you're a master at identifying appositives and appositive phrases!