Appositives and Appositive Phrases

Appositives and Appositive Phrases

Appositives

are nouns that usually follow and rename or describe another noun.

• Erin, my friend,

• Jeevan's bulldog, Fido,

• everyone's favorite class, ELA.

• Our school​, CYMS, ​

An appositive will ALWAYS come after the noun it identifies or explains.

*Literally 100% of the time.

*Usually, it is the word RIGHT IN FRONT of the appositive.

Multiple Choice

Appositives are located...

• before the noun it describes.

• after the noun it describes.

• in a different sentence.

Appositive Phrases

are appositives with all of their modifiers. They are noun phrases.

• Suzanne, my best friend in the whole world,

• The Golden Gate Bridge, the bridge that connects San Francisco​ and Marin County,

• Amanda, my youngest and most evil cousin,

• my pet cat, the one who climbs trees,​

The noun/pronoun that appositives identify functions as the: 

• subject                                                            

• predicate noun (found after linking verbs-am, is, are, was, were, be)

• direct object (found after action verbs)    

• object of preposition (found after prepositions)

One problem....

What does an appositive look like in a sentence? Let's look at a sentence and see if we can figure it out.

Nosferatu, a vampire in the Krusty Krab, is switching the lights on and off to scare Spongebob.

Where is the appositive?

What do we notice about the appositive?

• It immediately follows the noun it identifies (Nosferatu).

• The noun that the appositive explains functions as the subject of the sentence.

• It is separated by COMMAS.

• The commas show that the appositive is extra information. We don't need it, but it makes our sentences sound better.

Multiple Choice

Perry, a platypus with a fancy hat, fights crime to help the Tri-state Area. What's the appositive?

• Perry

• a platypus

• a platypus with a fancy hat

Multiple Choice

Perry, a platypus with a fancy hat, fights crime to help the Tri-state Area. What does the appositive describe?

• Perry

• a platypus

• crime

Multiple Choice

What is the function of the noun that the appositive explains?

Perry, a platypus with a fancy hat, fights crime to help the Tri-state Area.

• Subject

• Direct Object

• Predicate Nominative

• Object of the preposition

_{If, however, the appositive is essential (readers need the information to distinguish which one of many the writer means), no punctuation is needed.}

Although my sister Loretta disapproves of the on-court temper tantrums, she still thinks Robbie is cute.

Sister, a noun that can refer to many, many females, requires the clarification that the appositive Loretta provides.

Multiple Choice

What is the appositive in the sentence?

Pop star Michael Jackson died in 2009.

• died

• Pop star

• Michael Jackson

• in 2009

Multiple Choice

What is the appositive in the sentence?

My friend Emily owes me $50.

• My friend

• owes me

• $50

• Emily

What do we need to remember?

• Appositives identify or explain a noun. They offer more information.

• They ALWAYS, 100% OF THE TIME follow the noun they identify or explain.

• Essential appositives (readers need the information to distinguish which one of many the writer means) do not require punctuation.

Multiple Choice

Identify the appositive phrase:

Charles Dickens, the author of A Christmas Carol, once worked in a shoe polish factory.

• Charles Dickens

• the author

• the author of A Christmas Carol

• in a shoe polish factory

Multiple Choice

Identify the appositive phrase:

Did you know that Mr. Angel, my new English teacher, drives a 1969 Dodge Charger?

• Mr. Angel

• English teacher

• my new English teacher

• 1969 Dodge Charger

Multiple Choice

Identify the appositive:

Santa Claus gave his favorite reindeer, Rudolph, a special treat on Christmas Eve.

• Santa Claus

• reindeer

• Rudolph

• special treat

Multiple Choice

Identify the appositive phrase:

Queen Victoria, one of England's greatest monarchs, ruled for sixty-three years.

• Queen Victoria

• one of England's greatest monarchs

• England's greatest monarchs

• rules for sixty-three years

Multiple Choice

What is an appositive?

• An appositive shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence.

• An appositive is a noun or pronoun that identifies or renames another noun or pronoun.

• An appositive modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

• An appositive is a word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.