APPOSITIVES

APPOSITIVES

by Liam Egan

​What are appositives?

​An appositive is a noun or pronoun — often with modifiers — set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.

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Here are some examples of appositives (the noun or pronoun will be in blue, the appositive will be in red).

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Your friend Bill is in trouble.

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My brother's car, a sporty red convertible with bucket seats, is the envy of my friends.

The chief surgeon, an expert in organ-transplant procedures, took her nephew on a hospital tour.

An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede it.​

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• A bold innovator, Wassily Kandinsky is known for his colorful abstract paintings.

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• The first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution, Delaware is rich in history.

• A beautiful collie, Skip was my favorite dog.

PUNCTUATION OF APPOSITIVES​

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​In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after the appositive.

​Some examples ...

​The popular US president John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches.

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​Here we do not put commas around the appositive because it is essential information. Without the appositive, the sentence would be, "The popular US president was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches." We wouldn't know who the president is without the appositive.

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​John Kennedy, the popular US president, was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches.

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​Here we put commas around the appositive because it is not essential information. Without the appositive, the sentence would be, "John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches." We still know who the subject of the sentence is without the appositive.

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​John Kennedy the popular US president was almost an entirely different person than John Kennedy the young naval reservist.

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​Here we do not put commas around either appositive because they are both essential to understanding the sentence. Without the appositives, the sentence would just be John Kennedy was quite different from John Kennedy. We wouldn't know what qualities of John Kennedy were being referred to without the appositive.

Multiple Choice

Which phrase in the following sentence is an appositive phrase?

He went to Little Saffron Hill, a dark and gloomy den.

• went to Little Saffrom Hill

• Little Saffrom Hill

• a dark and gloomy den

Multiple Choice

An appositive provides more information about a noun.

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Choose the appositive.

John, where are you moving? I am moving to the best state in America, Texas.

• John

• Texas

• no appositive

• ,where are you moving?

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below is correctly punctuated?

• My sister, the tall one, is about to enter high school.

• My sister the tall one is about to enter high school.

• My sister, the tall one is about to enter high school.

• My sister the tall one, is about to enter high school.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• We decided to eat at Olive Garden my favorite restaurant.

• We decided to eat at, Olive Garden, my favorite restaurant.

• We decided to eat at Olive Garden, my favorite restaurant.

• We decided, to eat, at Olive Garden my favorite restaurant.

Multiple Choice

Choose the appositive. I haven't been to the new mall, but I will go on Sat. 

• new mall

• but I will go

• no appositive

Multiple Choice

Which phrase in the following sentence is an appositive phrase?

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was extremely well educated.

• Thomas Jefferson

• author of the Declaration of Independence

• was extremely well educated.

Multiple Choice

Which phrase in the following sentence is an appositive phrase?

President John Quincy Adams kept an unusual pet, an alligator.

• President John Quincy Adams

• kept an unusual pet

• an alligator

Multiple Choice

Which phrase in the following sentence is an appositive phrase?

The narrator of the story, Johnny, works in a lighthouse.

• The narrator of the story

• Johnny

• works in a lighthouse

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• Petey my pet snake has only bitten one person.

• Petey, my pet snake, has only bitten one person.

• Petey, my pet snake has only bitten one person.

• Petey my pet snake, has only bitten one person.

Multiple Choice

Nonessential appositives are ALWAYS offset by

• quotations

• a colon

• commas

• periods

Multiple Choice

The intruder, a large, inquisitive cockroach with hairy legs, is crawling across the kitchen table.

What does the bold portion describe?

• the cockroach

• the intruder

• the kitchen table

Poll

Which type of appositive requires commas?

• Nonessential

• Essential

Poll

How do you feel about identifying appositives and using them in your writing?

• Not comfortable - I need a lot more help.

• In the middle - I need additional practice.

• Comfortable - I have mastered appositives and can teach someone what I have learned.