Appositive Phrases

What is the purpose of an appositive phrase?

• to describe the action of the subject

• To rename or further identify a noun or pronoun
• To connect two independent clauses
• To show the time or place of an event

An appositive phrase does not need to contain a subject or predicate.

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Which of the following sentences contains an appositive phrase correctly punctuated?

• The Nile, flowing north for thousands of miles is the longest river in the world.
• The scientist Marie Curie, a pioneer in the study of radioactivity, won two Nobel Prizes.
• The city that never sleeps, is known for its dazzling lights and bustling streets.
• The ancient tree stood tall, shading the forest floor with its wide branches.

"The novel Frankenstein, a groundbreaking work of Gothic literature, was written by Mary Shelley."

Which is the appositive phrase here?

• Frankenstein
• The novel
• a groundbreaking work of Gothic literature
• was written by Mary Shelley

Match each sentence with the one that uses an appositive phrase correctly.

• A sentence without an appositive phrase about John.

• The novel Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen.

• A sentence correctly using an appositive phrase about a golden retriever.

• Her dog, a mischievous golden retriever, chewed up the sofa.

• A sentence incorrectly punctuating an appositive phrase about Socrates.

• The philosopher, Socrates was sentenced to death in Athens.

• A sentence without an appositive phrase about Pride and Prejudice.

• My brother John lives in Toronto.

"My friend, a talented pianist, will perform at the recital tonight."

In the sentence above, the appositive phrase "a talented pianist" (a)   .

• It functions as the predicate.
• It modifies the verb “perform.”
• provides detail about the subject
• is a useless point.

Reorder the following sentence:

• the famous physicist

• Albert Einstein

• who developed the theory of relativity,

• left high school at 15.