Lesson: Set Off Nonessential Appositives & Appositive Phrases

What is the primary use of a comma in a sentence?

• To separate words or groups of words

• To end a sentence

• To indicate a question

• To show possession

Tags

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.E1.9D.V

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(C)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9C

What does the term "essential" mean in the context of appositives?

• Absolutely necessary

• Not necessary

• A noun or pronoun

• A phrase

What does the term "nonessential" mean in the context of appositives?

• Not necessary

• Absolutely necessary

• A noun or pronoun

• A phrase

What is an appositive?

• A noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it

• A verb that describes an action

• An adjective that modifies a noun

• A conjunction that connects clauses

What is an appositive phrase?

• An appositive and its modifiers

• A verb and its modifiers

• An adjective and its modifiers

• A conjunction and its modifiers

Which of the following sentences correctly uses commas to set off a nonessential appositive?

• My best friend, Hailey, is studying ballet.

• My best friend Hailey is studying ballet.

• My best friend, Hailey is studying ballet.

• My best friend Hailey, is studying ballet.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.6.10D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.7.10D.VIII

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.VI

TEKS.ELA.E1.9D.V

TEKS.ELA.E2.9D.V

In the sentence "Sarah, my cousin, has won a dance scholarship," what is the appositive?

• Sarah

• My cousin

• Has won

• A dance scholarship

What is the function of a nonessential appositive or appositive phrase?

• Provides information that is unnecessary to the meaning of the sentence

• Provides essential information to the meaning of the sentence

• Connects two independent clauses

• Describes the action of the subject

What should not be used to set off essential appositives?

• Commas

• Periods

• Semicolons

• Colons