GRAMMAR WORK WEEK 4 Appositive and Appositive Phrases

WHAT IS AN APPOSITIVE?  An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that immediately follows another noun. An appositive explains or defines the noun it follows and is usually set off by commas. In these examples, the the appositive is red.  Mike’s dog, a mutt, sat down in the street.  Mike’s dog, a scrawny mutt, sat down in the street.  Mike’s dog, a scrawny mutt with a scruffy coat, sat down in the street.  Mike’s dog, a scrawny, scruffy-coated mutt with no common sense, sat down in the street.

WHEN APPOSITIVES NEED COMMAS  Some appositives require commas and others don’t.  Commas Needed. You’ll need to use commas if the sentence would still be complete and clear without the appositive. Put one comma before the appositive and one after when it provides non-essential information.  The garage, a danger zone, is filled with tools, bags of used clothing, boxes of papers, stacks of old magazines, and countless other piles of junk.

COMMAS NOT NEEDED  If the appositive gives meaning to the sentence, you will not need to put commas around the appositive. One-word appositives do not need commas.  The American author Ernest Hemingway spent many years abroad. (Since there are many American authors, Ernest Hemingway makes the sentence meaningful. Therefore, no commas are needed.)  Pinkie’s brother Roscoe lives in Walla Walla. (In order to explain which of Pinkie’s brothers we’re referring to, Roscoe becomes essential information. It’s also a one- word appositive. Therefore, no commas are needed.)

CHOOSING WHERE TO PLACE AN APPOSITIVE An appositive can BEGIN a sentence.  A prize-winning baker, Mrs. Patchett loves to make pies, cakes, and cookies. An appositive can BREAK UP a sentence.  Mrs. Patchett, a prize-winning baker, loves to make pies, cakes, and cookies. And an appositive can END a sentence.  Needing donations for the church bake sale, the committee called Mrs. Patchett, a prize-winning baker who loves to make pies, cakes, and cookies.