Appositives Related Standard: Identify and correctly use prepositional phrases, appositives, and independent and dependent clauses; use transitions and conjunctions to connect ideas.

Objectives Identify appositives and appositive phrases Distinguish the difference between essential and nonessential appositives. (Also called restrictive and nonrestrictive appositives.) Learn to effectively use appositives, including the proper punctuation, in your own writing.

Definition of Appositives An appositive is a noun or a pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it. The appositive is normally “positioned next to” the noun or pronoun it modifies, which is why it is said to be “in apposition”.

Examples The cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space. (The noun Yuri Gagarin identifies the noun cosmonaut.)

Examples I chose one person, her, to organize the volunteers. (The pronoun her refers to the noun person.)

Appositive Phrases An appositive phrase consists of an appositive, plus all of its modifiers.

Example Officer Webb, one of the security guards, caught the burglars. (The appositive is one, and of the security guards is an adjective phrase. Together, they are the appositive phrase that modifies Officer Webb.)

More Examples Rachel Carson, a biologist and writer, published the book Silent Spring in (The nouns biologist and writer describe the proper noun Rachel Carson. The noun Silent Spring identifies the common noun book.)

Appositive Practice Can you identify the appositive phrase in this sentence? One Fish, Two Fish, my favorite book by Dr. Seuss, is the only book I have read completely on my own.

Appositive Practice One Fish, Two Fish, my favorite book by Dr. Seuss, is the only book I have read completely on my own (The appositive phrase is my favorite book by Dr. Seuss, and it modifies the proper noun One Fish, Two Fish.)

Types of Appositives Appositives are either: essential appositives or nonessential appositives (They can also be called restrictive and nonrestrictive appositives.)

Essential Appositives An essential appositive provides information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. No comma is used to separate it from the rest of the sentence.

Essential Appositives What is the essential appositive in this sentence? My favorite president Harry Truman led the American people through the end of World War II.

Essential Appositives My favorite president Harry Truman led the American people through the end of World War II. Harry Truman is the essential appositive. If I do not include his name, you will not have enough information to understand my meaning completely.

Nonessential Appositives A nonessential appositive provides information that might be important, but it is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. Use a comma to separate the nonessential appositive from the rest of the sentence.

Appositive Phrases What is the nonessential appositive in this sentence? Harry Truman, my favorite president, led the American people through the end of World War II.

Appositive Phrases Harry Truman, my favorite president, led the American people through the end of World War II. My favorite president is the nonessential appositive. I don’t have to tell you he is my favorite president in order to tell you that he led the American people through the end of World War II.

Punctuation with Essential Appositives With appositives, remember that if you need the phrase to make the meaning clear, it is an essential appositive, and it does not require commas. My favorite president Harry Truman led the American people through the end of World War II.

Punctuation with Nonessential Appositives If you do not need the phrase to make the meaning clear, it is a nonessential appositive, and it does require commas. Harry Truman, my favorite president, led the American people through the end of World War II.

Remember the Rule!!! If you need the phrase, you DON’T need the commas!! If you don’t need the phrase, you DO need the commas!!

Why Use Appositives? Verbs of being are weaker than action verbs, and they make your writing sound less dynamic. Short, choppy sentences also make writing less interesting. Using appositives is a good way to eliminate verbs of being, and combine short, choppy sentences. This makes writing sound more sophisticated and vibrant!!

Example Wilbur is the new class president. He is the president of the junior class. He met with his officers to plan for the Prom. Use appositives to eliminate verbs of being, and combine short choppy sentences!! Wilbur, the new junior class president, met with his officers to plan for the Prom.

Appositive Phrases In class, we will practice identifying appositives, determining whether they are essential or nonessential, and utilizing correct punctuation when required. We will also look at how to use appositives to improve the basic sentence structure of your writing.