Appositive Phrases

Appositive Phrases

• begin with an -ing verb

• acts as an adjective that describes a noun in the sentence

• should be placed before or after the noun it describes

• EX: Fearing the lions, Salva walked carefully through Atuot land.

FIRST, LET'S REVIEW PRESENT PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Multiple Choice

Which is the present participial phrase in the sentence?

Hearing the soft music, the baby fell asleep in her father's arms.

• Hearing the soft music

• the baby fell asleep

• in her father's arms

Open Ended

The policemen investigated the crime scene. They found multiple DNA samples.

(Combine the sentences to create a present participial phrase. HintL Change one of the verbs to an-ing ending.)

• "renames" a noun right beside it

• can be short or long combination of words

• can begin, interrupt, or end a sentence

• an appositive phrase is ALWAYS separated from the rest of the sentence by commas

Appositive Phrases

• Grandma's dog, a husky mix, sleeps at the foot of her bed.

• My father gave my mother an anniversary gift, a beautiful pair of ruby earrings.

• That poem, the one by Edgar Allan Poe, made me cry.

HINT: Appositive phrases usually begin with an article (a, an the) or a possessive adjective (my, his, her, our, their, your).

EXAMPLES

Multiple Choice

What is the appositive phrase in the following:

Leonardo da Vinci, the great Renaissance painter, was also an inventor.

• Leonardo da Vinci, the great Renaissance painter

• was also an inventor

• Leonardo da Vinci

• the great Renaissance painter

Multiple Choice

What is the appositive phrase in the following:

Clarence, an angel, helps George Bailey realize what a wonderful life he has had.

• Clarence

• helps George Bailey realize what a wonderful life he has had

• an angel

• what a wonderful life he has had.

Open Ended

Combine these two sentences by changing one into an appositive phrase:

The lunch was brought an hour late. The lunch was a bowl of chicken soup. 

Open Ended

Combine the following sentences by changing one into an appositive phrase:

Mrs. Peterson gave us a difficult quiz today. Mrs. Peterson is my least favorite teacher.

Open Ended

Write a sentence about Nya or Salva that uses an appositive phrase.