appositives writers use appositives to clarify, explain or add further details to nouns. appositives...

AppositivesAppositives

Writers use appositives to clarify, Writers use appositives to clarify, explain or add further details to explain or add further details to nouns. Appositives can also be used nouns. Appositives can also be used to join sentences together.to join sentences together.

Punctuation NotePunctuation Note

Appositives are usually set off by commas Appositives are usually set off by commas or a dash.or a dash.

Where are Appositives Located Where are Appositives Located in a Sentence?in a Sentence?

An appositive can be found in the An appositive can be found in the beginning, middle, or at the end of beginning, middle, or at the end of the sentence.the sentence.

There can also be more than one There can also be more than one appositive in a sentence.appositive in a sentence.

Where are appositives located in Where are appositives located in a sentence?a sentence?

My sister, a florist in Rhode Island, bought My sister, a florist in Rhode Island, bought a new house last week.a new house last week.

Connie, a college student, was able to Connie, a college student, was able to save enough money to travel to Europe save enough money to travel to Europe this summer.this summer.

She is reading a new book, She is reading a new book, WickedWicked, by , by Gregory Maguire. Gregory Maguire.

Harry, an art student, made his first Harry, an art student, made his first sculpture last week, a dog playing with a sculpture last week, a dog playing with a bone.bone.

Where are appositives located in Where are appositives located in a sentence?a sentence?

My sisterMy sister, a florist in Rhode Island, , a florist in Rhode Island, bought bought a new house last week.a new house last week.

A college studentA college student, Connie, , Connie, was able to was able to save enough money to travel to Europe save enough money to travel to Europe this summer.this summer.

She is reading a new bookShe is reading a new book, , WickedWicked, , by by Gregory Maguire. Gregory Maguire.

HarryHarry, an art student, , an art student, made his first made his first sculpture last weeksculpture last week, a dog playing with a , a dog playing with a bonebone..

Identify the appositives in the Identify the appositives in the sentencesentence

1.1. When she came back from her When she came back from her vacation, she brought me a key chain, vacation, she brought me a key chain, a bear holding a sign saying, “Lake a bear holding a sign saying, “Lake Tahoe”. Tahoe”.

2.2. I found the old record I have been I found the old record I have been looking for, looking for, Glen Miller’s Greatest HitsGlen Miller’s Greatest Hits..

3.3. The record, a rare find, was not that The record, a rare find, was not that expensive.expensive.

4.4. A good cook, my father was asked to A good cook, my father was asked to make this year’s Christmas dinner. make this year’s Christmas dinner.


1.1. When she came back from her When she came back from her vacation, she brought me a key chainvacation, she brought me a key chain,, a bear holding a sign saying, “Lake a bear holding a sign saying, “Lake Tahoe”Tahoe”..

2.2. I found the old record I have been I found the old record I have been looking for, looking for, Glen Miller’s Greatest HitsGlen Miller’s Greatest Hits..

3.3. The recordThe record, a rare find, , a rare find, was not that was not that expensive.expensive.

4.4. A good cook, A good cook, my father was asked to my father was asked to make this year’s Christmas dinner. make this year’s Christmas dinner.


5.5. At lunch I ordered a number five— a At lunch I ordered a number five— a cheeseburger, fries, and a soda.cheeseburger, fries, and a soda.

6.6. They gave me the wrong soda, Pepsi, but They gave me the wrong soda, Pepsi, but I ordered a Dr. Pepper.I ordered a Dr. Pepper.

7.7. The fruit stand, a neighborhood favorite, The fruit stand, a neighborhood favorite, is having a sale on oranges today.is having a sale on oranges today.

8.8. The shoe salesman, a short man with The shoe salesman, a short man with black hair, was really helpful the other black hair, was really helpful the other day.day.


5.5. At lunch I ordered a number fiveAt lunch I ordered a number five— a — a cheeseburger, fries, and a sodacheeseburger, fries, and a soda..

6.6. They gave me the wrong sodaThey gave me the wrong soda, Pepsi, , Pepsi, but but I ordered a Dr. Pepper.I ordered a Dr. Pepper.

7.7. The fruit standThe fruit stand, a neighborhood favorite, , a neighborhood favorite, is having a sale on oranges today.is having a sale on oranges today.

8.8. The shoe salesmanThe shoe salesman, a short man with , a short man with black hair, black hair, was really helpful the other was really helpful the other day.day.

Identify the appositive in the Identify the appositive in the sentence and put commas around itsentence and put commas around it

1.1. The painting a family heirloom is The painting a family heirloom is hanging above our fireplace.hanging above our fireplace.

2.2. The painting is of two kids both girls The painting is of two kids both girls playing in a park.playing in a park.

3.3. One of the girls is wearing a pretty One of the girls is wearing a pretty dress pink with white polka dots. dress pink with white polka dots.

4.4. Looking away from the slide the Looking away from the slide the other girl looks like she wants to go other girl looks like she wants to go play on the swings.play on the swings.


1.1. The paintingThe painting, a family heirloom, , a family heirloom, is is hanging above our fireplace.hanging above our fireplace.

2.2. The painting is of two childrenThe painting is of two children, both , both girls, girls, playing in a park.playing in a park.

3.3. One of the girls is wearing a pretty One of the girls is wearing a pretty dressdress, a hand-me-down with white , a hand-me-down with white polka dotspolka dots. .

4.4. Looking away from the slide, the Looking away from the slide, the other girl looks like she wants to go other girl looks like she wants to go play on the swings.play on the swings.


5.5. The vase aqua blue with yellow The vase aqua blue with yellow stripes is on the table.stripes is on the table.

6.6. A nice family our neighbors bought A nice family our neighbors bought us cheesecake when we moved into us cheesecake when we moved into our new home.our new home.

7.7. Eli’s parents bought him a new Eli’s parents bought him a new motor cycle a green Kawasaki.motor cycle a green Kawasaki.

8.8. Nob Hill on south main has Nob Hill on south main has grapefruit on sale.grapefruit on sale.


5.5. The vaseThe vase, an antique with aqua and , an antique with aqua and yellow stripes, yellow stripes, is on the table.is on the table.

6.6. A nice family, A nice family, our neighbors bought our neighbors bought us cheesecake when we moved into us cheesecake when we moved into our new home.our new home.

7.7. Eli’s parents bought him a new Eli’s parents bought him a new motorcyclemotorcycle, a green Kawasaki, a green Kawasaki..

8.8. Nob HillNob Hill, the only store in town, , the only store in town, has has grapefruit on sale.grapefruit on sale.

Combine these two sentences by Combine these two sentences by using an appositiveusing an appositive

My new friend just moved here last week. My new friend just moved here last week.

My new friend is from Kansas.My new friend is from Kansas.

My favorite pet is a dog. My dog likes to go My favorite pet is a dog. My dog likes to go

on walks.on walks.

I bought two boxes of candles at the flea I bought two boxes of candles at the flea market. The candles are rose scented andmarket. The candles are rose scented andstrawberry scented tea lights.strawberry scented tea lights.

Combine these two sentences by Combine these two sentences by using an appositiveusing an appositive

A native of Kansas, my new friend just A native of Kansas, my new friend just

moved here last week. moved here last week.

My favorite pet, a dog, likes to go on walks.My favorite pet, a dog, likes to go on walks.

I bought two boxes of candles, rose and I bought two boxes of candles, rose and Strawberry-scented tea lights, at the flea Strawberry-scented tea lights, at the flea

market. market.

Use an appositive to make these Use an appositive to make these sentences more creativesentences more creative

1.1. My favorite Broadway musical is no My favorite Broadway musical is no longer showing at my favorite theatre.longer showing at my favorite theatre.

2.2. My favorite novel was released in 1996.My favorite novel was released in 1996.

3.3. Freddy works on cars.Freddy works on cars.

4.4. She rides her bike to school every day.She rides her bike to school every day.

5.5. My friends and I like to go to the movie My friends and I like to go to the movie theatre.theatre.


1.1. My favorite Broadway musical, My favorite Broadway musical, RentRent, is no , is no longer showing at my favorite theatre.longer showing at my favorite theatre.

2.2. My favorite novel, a best seller, was My favorite novel, a best seller, was released in 1996.released in 1996.

3.3. Freddy works on cars, old cars from the Freddy works on cars, old cars from the 1960’s.1960’s.

4.4. She rides her bike, a purple Schwinn, to She rides her bike, a purple Schwinn, to school every day.school every day.

5.5. My friends and I, college seniors, like to My friends and I, college seniors, like to go to the movie theatre.go to the movie theatre.


6.6. Brandon bought his girlfriend a ring.Brandon bought his girlfriend a ring.

7.7. Her teacher gave her a good grade Her teacher gave her a good grade on their last assignment.on their last assignment.

8.8. She likes to go on trips.She likes to go on trips.


6.6. Brandon, a high school senior, Brandon, a high school senior, bought his girlfriend, a high school bought his girlfriend, a high school junior, a ring.junior, a ring.

7.7. Her teacher gave her a good grade, Her teacher gave her a good grade, an A-, on their last assignment.an A-, on their last assignment.

8.8. She likes to go on trips, island She likes to go on trips, island vacations with little to worry about.vacations with little to worry about.

Use appositives to put more Use appositives to put more creativity into this paragraphcreativity into this paragraph

My two cousins came over to my My two cousins came over to my house last weekend. My two cousins are house last weekend. My two cousins are both boys. They played video games. I both boys. They played video games. I had homework to do. I had algebra had homework to do. I had algebra homework. After I finished my homework. After I finished my homework, I took them out for pizza. I homework, I took them out for pizza. I wish I would have had more time to wish I would have had more time to spend with them. Next time they come spend with them. Next time they come over I think I will take them to go play at over I think I will take them to go play at the video arcade.the video arcade.

Use appositives to put more Use appositives to put more creativity into this paragraphcreativity into this paragraph

My two cousins, both boys, came over My two cousins, both boys, came over to my house last weekend. I wish I would to my house last weekend. I wish I would have had more time to spend with them. have had more time to spend with them. They played video games, multi-player They played video games, multi-player games that I wish I could have joined. I games that I wish I could have joined. I had homework to do, algebra homework, had homework to do, algebra homework, that was due days ago. After I finished that was due days ago. After I finished my homework, I took them out for pizza. my homework, I took them out for pizza. Next time they come over, I want to take Next time they come over, I want to take them to go play at the video arcade.them to go play at the video arcade.

ResourcesResources

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/606/01/

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