Appositive Phrases: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Phrases

What is an appositive?

• An appositive is a brief reference to an important person, event, or cultural phenomenon.

• 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.

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,

What is the appositive phrase in the following:

In It's a Wonderful Life, one of the most popular movies ever made, a character named Clarence wants to get his wings.

• , one of the most popular movies ever made,

• , a character named Clarence wants to get his wings.

• In It's a Wonderful Life, one of the most popular movies ever made,

• In It's a Wonderful Life,

What is the appositive phrase in the following:

Clarence, an angel, must accomplish this goal by helping the character George Bailey realize what a wonderful life he has had.

• Clarence,

• , must accomplish this goal by helping the character George Bailey realize what a wonderful life he has had.

• , an angel,

• what a wonderful life he has had.

Choose the sentence below that shows the best way to join these two sentences using an appositive phrase. In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey is a well-loved citizen of Bedford Falls. George Bailey wishes that he had never been born.

• In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey a well-loved citizen of Bedford Falls wishes that he had never been born.

• George Bailey is in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." He is a well-loved citizen of Bedford Falls. He wishes that he had never been born.

• In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey, a well-loved citizen of Bedford Falls, wishes that he had never been born.

• In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey wishes that he had never been born a well-loved citizen of Bedford Falls.

What is a restrictive appositive?

• A restrictive appositive adds extra information about a noun or pronoun whose meaning is already clear.

• A restrictive appositive provides information that is needed to identify the preceding noun or pronoun.

• A restrictive appositive expresses an action, a condition, or a state of being.

• A restrictive appositive limits the meaning of a noun or pronoun.

What is a nonrestrictive appositive?

• A nonrestrictive appositive adds extra information about a noun or pronoun whose meaning is already clear.

• A nonrestrictive appositive provides information that is needed to identify the preceding noun or pronoun.

• A nonrestrictive appositive expresses an action, a condition, or a state of being.

• A nonrestrictive appositive limits the meaning of a noun or pronoun.

Is this a restrictive appositive or a nonrestrictive appositive?

The Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci drew a flying machine with flapping wings around 1500.

• Restrictive appositive

• Nonrestrictive appositive

Is this a restrictive appositive or a nonrestrictive appositive?

Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian artist, drew a flying machine with flapping wings around 1500.

• Restrictive appositive

• Nonrestrictive appositive

Is this a restrictive appositive or a nonrestrictive appositive?

In It's a Wonderful Life, one of the most popular movies ever made, a character named Clarence wants to get his wings.

• Essential (or restrictive) appositive

• Nonessential (or nonrestrictive) appositive