All About Appositives

Why do we use appositives?

• to add detail to our writing
• to help build sentence variety
• to provide context clues
• all of the above

When you use an appositive in the middle of the sentence you may need to add . . .

• a comma
• a semicolon
• two commas

Remember the appositive adds detail. If it is essential information,  no commas are needed. Make sure whatever you see as the appositive is the add on not the important information.

•  My mom, a nurse drives a red car.
• My mom, a nurse, drives a red car.
• My mom a nurse drives a red car.

Which one is correct?

• A helpful and patient woman Sally, greeted all of her clients with a smile. 
• A helpful and patient woman Sally greeted all of her clients with a smile. 
• A helpful and patient woman, Sally greeted all of her clients with a smile. 

Which one is correct?

• Joe, my youngest brother, has a heart of gold. 
• Joe, my youngest brother has a heart of gold. 
• Neither one is correct.
• Both could be correct. 

Change the sentence to have an appositive phrase.
John was astonished when he saw his former girlfriend Jill at the dance.

• John was astonished when he saw his former girlfriend, Jill, at the dance.
• John was astonished, when he saw his former girlfriend, Jill at the dance.
• John was astonished, when he saw his former girlfriend Jill at the dance.

Fix this sentence using appositive phrases.
This concept the appositive can be a tricky element in grammar.

• This concept, the appositive can be a tricky element, in grammar.
• This concept, the appositive, can be a tricky element in grammar.
• This concept the appositive, can be a tricky element, in grammar.

The first man on the moon was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio.He was Neil Armstrong.
Which is correct?

• The first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
• Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
• Born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon. 
• All of the above.