Appositives

What is an appositive?

• A type of verb

• A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun

• A type of adjective

• A verb tense

Answer explanation

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that provides additional information about another noun in the sentence.

Identify the appositive in this sentence: My brother, a talented musician, plays the guitar.

• My brother

• a talented musician

• plays

• the guitar

Answer explanation

The phrase 'a talented musician' is an appositive that gives more information about 'my brother'.

Complete the sentence: The city _____, known for its music scene, attracts many tourists. A) Nashville B) which Nashville C) Nashville which D) who Nashville

• Nashville

• which Nashville

• Nashville which

• who Nashville

Answer explanation

'Nashville' is the noun that is being renamed by the appositive 'known for its music scene'.

True or False: An appositive can be removed from a sentence without altering its basic meaning.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

An appositive provides additional information but is not essential to the main meaning of the sentence.

In which sentence is the appositive used correctly?

• My sister, she loves painting, is very creative.

• My sister, a talented artist, loves painting.

• My sister a talented artist loves painting.

• My sister, a talented artist loves painting.

Answer explanation

The appositive 'a talented artist' is correctly set off by commas.

Identify the sentence where the appositive is not necessary: A) The author J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter. B) The author, J.K. Rowling, wrote Harry Potter. C) J.K. Rowling, the author, wrote Harry Potter. D) The author J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter.

• The author J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter.

• The author, J.K. Rowling, wrote Harry Potter.

• J.K. Rowling, the author, wrote Harry Potter.

• The author J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter.

Answer explanation

The appositive 'J.K. Rowling' is not necessary because her identity is clear without it, but it provides additional information.

True or False: An appositive can only appear at the beginning of a sentence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Appositives can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Which appositive correctly renames the noun in this sentence: My pet, _____, loves to nap all day.

• a fluffy cat

• who is fluffy

• that fluffy cat

• with a fluffy tail

Answer explanation

'A fluffy cat' is a noun phrase that renames 'my pet'.

Complete the sentence with the correct appositive: Her favorite book, _____, is a bestseller. A) Pride and Prejudice B) which is a novel C) by Jane Austen D) that is famous

• Pride and Prejudice

• which is a novel

• by Jane Austen

• that is famous

Answer explanation

'Pride and Prejudice' is the noun phrase that specifies which book is her favorite.

True or False: Appositives must always be set off by commas.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Non-restrictive appositives are set off by commas, but restrictive appositives, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence, are not.