Appositive Phrases

Front

What is an appositive?

Back

An appositive is a noun or pronoun that identifies or renames another noun or pronoun.

Front

What is the appositive phrase in the following sentence: 'Clarence, an angel, must accomplish this goal by helping the character George Bailey realize what a wonderful life he has had.'?

Back

The appositive phrase is 'an angel'.

Front

What is the difference between an essential and a nonessential appositive?

Back

An essential appositive is necessary for the meaning of the sentence, while a nonessential appositive adds extra information but can be removed without changing the sentence's meaning.

Front

Identify the type of appositive in this sentence: 'Clarence, an angel, must accomplish this goal.'

Back

Nonessential (or nonrestrictive) appositive.

Front

Identify the type of appositive in this sentence: 'In It's a Wonderful Life, one of the most popular movies ever made, a character named Clarence wants to get his wings.'

Back

Nonessential (or nonrestrictive) appositive.

Front

What punctuation is typically used with nonessential appositives?

Back

Nonessential appositives are usually set off by commas.

Front

Provide an example of an essential appositive.

Back

My brother, a talented musician, plays the guitar.

Front

Provide an example of a nonessential appositive.

Back

My dog, a golden retriever, loves to play fetch.

Front

What is the role of an appositive in a sentence?

Back

An appositive provides additional information about a noun or pronoun.

Front

Can an appositive be a phrase?

Back

Yes, an appositive can be a single word or a phrase that renames or identifies a noun.