Rule: Use commas to set off appositives

Appositives An appositives is a noun or pronoun that follows another noun or pronoun to identify or explain it. Sentences with one word appositives do not need commas. Ex. My cousin Jack The writer William Shakespeare An appositive phrase is made up of the appositive and its modifiers Ex. My neighbor, Dr. Panda, got her degree in biology, the scientific study of life.

Helpful Hints Occasionally the appositive phrase precedes the noun or pronoun An appositive phrase : Renames the noun or pronoun Has no subject or verb Can be removed from a sentence still leaving it intact Can appear anywhere in a sentence

More Helpful Hints My cousin Betty is a wonderful musician. There are no commas because Betty is a one word appositive

Examples Wrong: An accomplished painter Miss. Micro entered her work in all the top notch art shops. Right: An accomplished painter, Miss. Micro entered her work in all the top notch art shops.

Example #2 Wrong: Romeo and Juliet a play about two young lovers was written by William Shakespeare a talented writer in the Elizabethan Era. Right: Romeo and Juliet, a play about two young lovers, was written by William Shakespeare, a talented writer in the Elizabethan Era.

3. Bobo the really funny clown can make all sorts of balloon animals. Practice: On a separate sheet of paper write (1) the word preceding the appositive if (if any), (2) the appositive or appositive phrase, and (3) the word following the appositive or the appositive phrase (if any) 1.Six Flags an amusement park with locations all over the U.S. is my favorite place to go. 2.Hebert Howdy a carnie working at Six Flags has no hair and only one tooth. 3. Bobo the really funny clown can make all sorts of balloon animals.

Flags, an amusement park with locations all over the, is Answers Flags, an amusement park with locations all over the, is Howdy, a carnie working at Six Flags, has Bobo, the really funny clown, can

Helpful Links www.mantanalife.com/writing/Comma_Rules.html - a helpful websites explaining all the commas rules plus good examples www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/behrens/app.htm - this website explains all about appositives and has exercises to practice using them www.grammarbytes.com – a great website that teaches you about commas then gives you different exercises to practice with

Bibliography www.sixflags.com