Appositive Phrases

What is an appositive phrase? 1) Read the sentences. 2) The appositive phrase is bold underlined. 3) Write what you think an appositive phrase is.

Appositive Phrases: Read Ellen, a 47 year-old waitress, gazed out the window with a bored look on her face. Troy signed the contract that made him the owner of a car, a brand new cherry red convertible. What do you think an appositive is? Write:

Appositive Phrase: Definition An appositive phrase is a noun phrase that describes another noun or pronoun in the sentence. They can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Usually, they are: Surrounded by commas Article + noun phrase

Appositive Phrase: Examples 1. Identify the noun, and the appositive noun that clarifies. Example: 1. A young girl, my most responsible neighbor, was supposed to pick up my mail. Answer: girl  neighbor 2. Rick, a Santa imposter, enjoys making children cry. Answer: Rick imposter

Appositive Phrase: Example 1 Ellen, a 47 year-old waitress, gazed out the window with a bored look on her face. You would write: Ellen  waitress Nouns

Appositive Phrase: Example 2 Troy signed the contract that made him the owner of a car, a brand new cherry red convertible. Answer: Car  convertible Nouns

#5 Among the company was a lawyer, a young man of about twenty-five.

#5 Among the company was a lawyer, a young man of about twenty-five. Nouns

#8 Jan Carter, an unabashed, suntanned flirt who had smiled at him in the cafeteria line, transferred to the department near Tom’s, for a “chance” meeting.

#8 Jan Carter, an unabashed, suntanned flirt who had smiled at him in the cafeteria line, transferred to the department near Tom’s, for a “chance” meeting. Nouns

Add Appositives: Directions Add appositives to the sentences with blank spaces.

#11 My sister, _____________________, is the only one who knows my secret.

#12 A / an __________________________, Maria earned a perfect score on her SAT.

A Note About Punctuation: Do NOT set apart the appositive phrase with commas when it includes essential information for your reader: The popular US president John Kennedy was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches. John Kennedy, the popular US president, was known for his eloquent and inspirational speeches.

Commas, or no? A bold innovator Wassily Kandinsky is known for his colorful abstract paintings. Your friend Bill is in trouble. John Kennedy the popular US president was quite different from John Kennedy the unfaithful husband. Mrs. Webster a true genius knows an awful lot about commas.

Now you try… Write an appositive phrase about your Thanksgiving Break. My uncle, a fabulous chef, cooked our turkey. I was terrified during the turbulent landing in Chicago, an appropriately nicknamed city. A student at Hope College, my sister did not join us until Wednesday.

Source Kilgallon, Don. Sentence Composing for High School Students. Boynton/Cook Pulishers, Inc. Portsmouth, NH: 1998.