Grammar Unit: The Appositive and Appositive Phrase Definition: An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of words.nounnoun phrase Examples: The insect, a cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table. The insect, a large cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table. The insect, a large cockroach with hairy legs, is crawling across the kitchen table. The insect, a large, hairy-legged cockroach that has spied my bowl of oatmeal, is crawling across the kitchen table.

Identify the appositive or appositive phrase in the sentences below. Dante, a beautiful German shepherd, was my favorite dog. His car, a sporty, yellow roadster with a sun roof, is brand new. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, did a great service to his country. The armadillo, a scaly anteater, is Texas symbol.

Answers Dante, a beautiful German shepherd, was my favorite dog. His car, a sporty, yellow roadster with a sun roof, is brand new. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, did a great service to his country. The armadillo, a scaly anteater, is Texas symbol.

Grammar Unit: Appositive Phrases Beginning, Middle, End An appositive phrase can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. When the appositive begins the sentence, it looks like this: A hot-tempered tennis player, Robbie charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket. When the appositive interrupts the sentence, it looks like this: Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis player, charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket. And when the appositive ends the sentence, it looks like this: Upset by the bad call, the crowd cheered Robbie, a hot- tempered tennis player who charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket.

Identify the appositive phrase in the sentences below by underlining them. Remember to first identify the noun that the appositive renames. Alan, the chief executive of the project, has just called for a meeting. My friend, Leila writes good poetry. Denver, the capital of Colorado, is very beautiful. Mark was talking to Sheila, Bob’s little sister.

Answers Alan, the chief executive of the project, has just called for a meeting. My friend, Leila writes good poetry. Denver, the capital of Colorado, is very beautiful. Mark was talking to Sheila, Bob’s little sister.

Grammar Unit: Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Appositives Add this information to your notes from Monday and Tuesday. Despite what we have witnessed in all of our previous examples, not all appositive phrases are set off by commas! Restrictive Appositives: In a restrictive appositive, the second element limits or clarifies a word in some crucial way. Appositives that are necessary in order to comprehend the full meaning of a sentence should NOT be set off with commas. Example: Police officer Smith told my brother to file a report about his stolen bike. My brother David likes spaghetti.

Nonrestrictive Appositives Nonrestrictive Appositives: Nonrestrictive appositives are not necessary to understanding the sentence. It rather provides additional information about the noun being renamed. Non- restrictive appositives are set off by comma(s). Example: Mexico City, the biggest city in the world, has many interesting archaeological sites. My brother's bike, a dark green BMX, was stolen yesterday.

Identify the appositive phrases below by underlining them. If they are nonrestrictive appositives, add the necessary comma(s). An innovative writer Leonard Cohen grew up in Montreal, Canada. My aunt Sandra always puts an exorbitant number of lights on her house at Christmas. I always enjoy spending time with my cousin Mallory Toby Diane's eleven-year-old beagle chews holes in the living room carpeting as if he were still a puppy.

Answers An innovative writer, Leonard Cohen grew up in Montreal, Canada. My aunt Sandra always puts an exorbitant number of lights on her house at Christmas. I always enjoy spending time with my cousin Mallory. Toby, Diane's eleven-year-old beagle, chews holes in the living room carpeting as if he were still a puppy.