History
Appositives Phrases
What is an appositive?
• Appositives are our third type of phrase. We’ve already
done prepositional phrases and infinitive phrases.
• Remember: phrase = a group of related words.
• An appositive is a special noun or noun phrase that
immediately follows and renames another noun.
• Appositives are used in writing to provide
additional details about a noun.
Appositive
(rules)
• Appositives “rename” other nouns or pronouns.
• The appositive or appositive phrase will ALWAYS come after
the noun it is renaming in the sentence. Always. Therefore,
they refer back to an earlier noun or pronoun.
• The appositive itself is always a noun. An appositive phrase
will always contain a noun and any number of other words.
• Appositives are often “set off” by commas.
• Restrictive appositives don’t have to use commas.
How will we label
sentences when finding
appositives?
Examples
His cousin, Jennifer, is going to visit for three weeks.
His cousin, Jennifer, is going to visit for three weeks.
Jennifer is an appositive renaming or describing cousin.
There is no phrase in this example. When it’s just a single
noun renaming another noun, this is simply an appositive, not
an appositive phrase.
Examples
Lucky, my first dog, used to love to chase squirrels.
Lucky, my first dog, used to love to chase squirrels.
My first dog is an appositive phrase telling details
about Lucky.
Note the difference from the first example. Instead of just having
one word, we have a group of words – a phrase.
Examples
Amanda’s dog, the large brown beagle by the fence, is happy.
Amanda’s dog, the large brown beagle by the fence, is happy.
In this case, beagle is the appositive renames and gives details
about dog.
However, this time we’ve got a different situation:
“the large brown beagle by the fence” is an appositive PHRASE
(more than one word) renaming dog.
Your turn.
My cousin, a doctor, is going to join the Peace Corps.
My cousin, a doctor, is going to join the Peace Corps.
“Doctor” is an appositive renaming cousin; “a doctor” is
an appositive phrase renaming cousin.
Your turn.
Our math teacher, Mrs. Blackwell, loves learning.
Our math teacher, Mrs. Blackwell, loves learning.
“Mrs. Blackwell” is an appositive that renames
“teacher”.
Your turn.
The FedEx man greeted Mrs. Wilson, his favorite customer.
The FedEx man greeted Mrs. Wilson, his favorite customer.
Appositives can rename nouns, even if they’re not the subject
of the sentence.
All of the examples so far have
used commas.
Do we always have to use
commas??? NO!
Here’s why…
Do we always have to have
commas? No.
• If an appositive is a “restrictive appositive”, this means it provides
essential information – or information that cannot be removed from
the sentence. In these cases, we do not have to use commas, but
we can. Either way is acceptable. Yes, English is awesome…
My cousin David is going to join the Peace Corps.
My cousin David is going to join the Peace Corps.*
*We need to know which cousin – it’s essential info. As
a result, we don’t need to use commas.
Your turn.
My friend Stephanie just bought a house.
2
My friend Stephanie just bought a house. (RESTRICTIVE)
Stephanie, my new friend, just bought a house.
Stephanie, my new friend, just bought a house. (NORMAL)
Your turn.
My other roommate, Mike, is a police officer.
My other roommate, Mike, is a police officer.
Your turn.
The Red Sox, my favorite baseball team, need to get better.
The Red Sox, my favorite baseball team, need to get better.
Your turn.
I think you need to meet Kate. NONE.
I think you need to meet Kate, the girl who is new here.
I think you need to meet Kate, my new friend with a laugh like Satan.
I think you need to meet Kate, my roommate with curly hair and
yellow striped sandals next to the gate.
I think you need to meet Kate, my older sister who goes to the
University of Delaware.
My older sister, Kate, needs to meet you.
My older sister Kate needs to meet you.
Appositive
(rules)
• Appositives “rename” other nouns or pronouns.
• The appositive or appositive phrase will ALWAYS come after
the noun it is renaming in the sentence. Always. Therefore,
they refer back to an earlier noun or pronoun.
• The appositive itself is always a noun. An appositive phrase
will always contain a noun and any number of other words.
• Appositives are often “set off” by commas.
• Restrictive appositives don’t have to use commas.
How will we label
sentences when finding
appositives?