Using Appositives
Definition of an appositive
An appositive is a noun phrase or a noun that gives information about the main subject/noun right beside it or describes the main subject of the sentence.
Read this example sentence and pay attention to the phrase in bold.
The late Agatha Christie, a well-known writer of detective novels, wrote about 75 novels before she passed away at the age of 85.
The phrase in bold in an appositive which is actually inserted into the complete sentence "The late Agatha Christie wrote about 75 novels before she passed away at the age of 85". Note that inserting an appositive somewhere in the middle of a complete sentence requires two commas. One comma before the appositive and one after it.
Another example sentence
In the story "Beauty and the Beast", the merchant promised the Beast that he would let his youngest daughter, Beauty, keep house for him.
"Beauty" is the appositive and it tells us the name of the youngest daughter. Without "Beauty", you won't know the youngest daughter's name, right? Therefore, it is useful and informative to include an appositive in a sentence.
More example sentences. The appositive in each sentence is in bold and italics.
Cindy, an eleven-year-old girl with auburn hair, lives in Los Angeles.
(The complete sentence is "Cindy lives in Los Angeles")
Many rock music lovers can still remember the late Alvis Presley, the King of Rock.
(The complete sentence is "Many rock music lovers can still remember the late Alvis Presley")
(Only one comma (,) is needed as the appositive is inserted at the end of the complete sentence.)
The Harley family has lived in this neighborhood for many years, almost 30 years.
(The complete sentence is "The Harley family has lived in this neighborhood for many years")
("almost 30 years" is the informative appositive that tells you how many years)
Most customers prefer to buy the concentrated liquid detergent, "Dynamo".
(The complete sentence is "Most customers prefer to buy the concentrated liquid detergent"/ "Dynamo" is the appositive)
The gecko, commonly known as the house lizard, eats insects and spiders. OR
Commonly known as the house lizard, the gecko eats insects and spiders.
(The complete sentence is "The gecko eats insects and spiders")
An important point to remember: When using an appositive in a complete sentence, you must punctuate it correctly. You must make sure you place the comma/commas correctly. Without the commas, your sentences will be grammatically incorrect.
Read these example sentences and pay attention to the position of the commas (,).
Hilda often gets scolded by her teacher because she keeps chatting with Felicia, the most talkative girl in class.
(appositive inserted at the end of the sentence) (one comma is needed)
Hilda keeps chatting with Felicia, the most talkative girl in class, and often gets scolded by her teacher.
(appositive inserted in the middle of the sentence) ( two commas are needed)
My best friend, Lionel, is a very kind and helpful person. He is always ready to help unfortunate people, especially the handicapped and the needy.
Click here for other kinds of grammar
An appositive is a noun phrase or a noun that gives information about the main subject/noun right beside it or describes the main subject of the sentence.
Read this example sentence and pay attention to the phrase in bold.
The late Agatha Christie, a well-known writer of detective novels, wrote about 75 novels before she passed away at the age of 85.
The phrase in bold in an appositive which is actually inserted into the complete sentence "The late Agatha Christie wrote about 75 novels before she passed away at the age of 85". Note that inserting an appositive somewhere in the middle of a complete sentence requires two commas. One comma before the appositive and one after it.
Another example sentence
In the story "Beauty and the Beast", the merchant promised the Beast that he would let his youngest daughter, Beauty, keep house for him.
"Beauty" is the appositive and it tells us the name of the youngest daughter. Without "Beauty", you won't know the youngest daughter's name, right? Therefore, it is useful and informative to include an appositive in a sentence.
More example sentences. The appositive in each sentence is in bold and italics.
Cindy, an eleven-year-old girl with auburn hair, lives in Los Angeles.
(The complete sentence is "Cindy lives in Los Angeles")
Many rock music lovers can still remember the late Alvis Presley, the King of Rock.
(The complete sentence is "Many rock music lovers can still remember the late Alvis Presley")
(Only one comma (,) is needed as the appositive is inserted at the end of the complete sentence.)
The Harley family has lived in this neighborhood for many years, almost 30 years.
(The complete sentence is "The Harley family has lived in this neighborhood for many years")
("almost 30 years" is the informative appositive that tells you how many years)
Most customers prefer to buy the concentrated liquid detergent, "Dynamo".
(The complete sentence is "Most customers prefer to buy the concentrated liquid detergent"/ "Dynamo" is the appositive)
The gecko, commonly known as the house lizard, eats insects and spiders. OR
Commonly known as the house lizard, the gecko eats insects and spiders.
(The complete sentence is "The gecko eats insects and spiders")
An important point to remember: When using an appositive in a complete sentence, you must punctuate it correctly. You must make sure you place the comma/commas correctly. Without the commas, your sentences will be grammatically incorrect.
Read these example sentences and pay attention to the position of the commas (,).
Hilda often gets scolded by her teacher because she keeps chatting with Felicia, the most talkative girl in class.
(appositive inserted at the end of the sentence) (one comma is needed)
Hilda keeps chatting with Felicia, the most talkative girl in class, and often gets scolded by her teacher.
(appositive inserted in the middle of the sentence) ( two commas are needed)
My best friend, Lionel, is a very kind and helpful person. He is always ready to help unfortunate people, especially the handicapped and the needy.
Click here for other kinds of grammar
By Susan L
On 1/25/2010 05:53:00 AM
1 Comment(s)
View More Articles... On 1/25/2010 05:53:00 AM
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:53:00 AM
Another example:Goku, the main character in Dragon Ball Z, lost his tail. ~ by Josh Tam