Appositives & Relative Clauses

Which option uses a RELATIVE CLAUSE to combine the two sentences?

Scientists have long known that domesticated animals tend to share key traits. These include floppy ears, shorter snouts, and decreased aggression.

• Scientists have long known that domesticated animals tend to share key traits, and these include floppy ears, shorter snouts, and decreased aggression.

• Scientists have long known that domesticated animals tend to share key traits, these include floppy ears, shorter snouts, and decreased aggression.

• Scientists have long known that domesticated animals tend to share key traits, which include floppy ears, shorter snouts, and decreased aggression.

• Scientists have long known that domesticated animals tend to share key traits because these include floppy ears, shorter snouts, and decreased aggression.

Answer explanation

CORRECT ANSWER: Scientists have long known that domesticated animals tend to share key traits, which include floppy ears, shorter snouts, and decreased aggression.

"which include..." is the relative clause that gives more information about the key traits

Which answer choice gives the APPOSITIVE used in the sentence below?

Now, researchers have discovered that humans may have influenced another trait in dogs, the color of their eyes.

• the color of their eyes

• Now

• may have influenced

• another trait in dogs

Which answer choice uses an APPOSITIVE to combine the following sentences?

A new study suggests humans may have selected dogs with darker eyes because we view them as more friendly and youthful. These are traits we value in our pets.

• A new study suggests humans may have selected dogs with darker eyes because we view them as more friendly and youthful, and these are traits we value in our pets.

• A new study suggests humans may have selected dogs with darker eyes because we view them as more friendly and youthful, so they are traits we value in our pets.

• A new study suggests humans may have selected dogs with darker eyes because we view them as more friendly and youthful, traits we value in our pets.

• A new study suggests humans may have selected dogs with darker eyes because we view them as more friendly and youthful, these are traits we value in our pets.

Answer explanation

CORRECT ANSWER: A new study suggests humans may have selected dogs with darker eyes because we view them as more friendly and youthful, traits we value in our pets.

"friendly and youthful" is the appositive that describes the "traits we value in our pets"

Which sentence contains an APPOSITIVE?

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their yellow-eyed cousins, wolves.

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their yellow-eyed wolf cousins.

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their yellow-eyed cousins.

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than yellow-eyed wolves.

Answer explanation

CORRECT ANSWER: Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their yellow-eyed cousins, wolves.

The appositive is "wolves".

Which sentence contains a RELATIVE CLAUSE?

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their yellow-eyed wolf cousins.

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their wolf cousins, which have yellow eyes.

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their yellow-eyed cousins.

• Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than yellow-eyed wolves.

Answer explanation

CORRECT ANSWER: Domestic dogs tend to have significantly darker and redder irises than their wolf cousins, which have yellow eyes.

The relative clause is "which have yellow eyes." It gives more information about "their wolf cousins".

Decide whether the appositive in each sentence needs commas.

Groups:

(a) Needs Comma(s)

,

(b) Doesn't Need Comma(s)

• Mr. Brown the football coach always carries a whistle.

• I enjoyed reading "The Medicine Bag" a story about a young boy who learns to value tradition.

• My friend Jacob loves all the same sports I do.

• It turns out chocolate my favorite candy can be good for you!

• The mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to ban sodas.

• The book "The Hobbit" was made into a movie.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• The simple act of listening to a favorite song that triggers long-ago memories can alter your mood.

• The simple act of listening to a favorite song, that triggers long-ago memories, can alter your mood.

Answer explanation

A comma should not be used in this sentence because the relative clause "that triggers a long-ago memory" is necessary information. It tells you what kind of song can alter your mood. The meaning of the sentence would change if we took this clause out.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• The song "Drift Away" released a flood of positive emotions and happy memories.

• The song, "Drift Away", released a flood of positive emotions and happy memories.

Answer explanation

A comma should not be used in this sentence because the appositive "Drift Away" is necessary information. It identifies which specific song had the positive effect.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

• The song activated the reward system in my brain which made me feel better.

• The song activated the reward system in my brain, which made me feel better.

Answer explanation

The song activated the reward system in my brain, which made me feel better.

In this sentence, the relative clause (which made me feel better) is extra information about the words that came before it. We don't need this clause to know which reward system the writer is talking about. Therefore, a comma should be used.

Which of the following is the BEST way to combine these sentences?

One reason music has such an immediate impact on us is due to the way it is processed rapidly in the limbic system. The limbic system is the part of the brain which helps us experience emotions.

• One reason music has such an immediate impact on us is due to the way it is processed rapidly in the limbic system, the limbic system is the part of the brain which helps us experience emotions.

• One reason music has such an immediate impact on us is due to the way it is processed rapidly in the limbic system since the limbic system is the part of the brain which helps us experience emotions.

• One reason music has such an immediate impact on us is due to the way it is processed rapidly in the limbic system, and this is the part of the brain which helps us experience emotions.

• One reason music has such an immediate impact on us is due to the way it is processed rapidly in the limbic system, the part of the brain which helps us experience emotions.

Answer explanation

CORRECT ANSWER: One reason music has such an immediate impact on us is due to the way it is processed rapidly in the limbic system, the part of the brain which helps us experience emotions.

It is the most concise, clear revision, and it maintains the meaning of the original sentences. Notice that it uses an APPOSITIVE to combine them.