Commas in Appositives

Identify the appositive: An enormous man with great strength, Henry was able to carry the entire pallet of bricks by himself.

• An enormous man with great strength

• Henry

• the entire pallet of bricks

• by himself

Identify the appositive:

A beautiful German Shepard, Trixie was my favorite dog.

• Trixie

• A beautiful German Shepard

• German Shepard

• was my favorite dog

Identify the appositives: John Kennedy the popular US president was almost an entirely different person than John Kennedy the young naval reservist.

• John Kennedy

• the popular US president

• the young naval reservist

Write your own sentence using a nonessential appositive.

How do you feel about identifying appositives and using them in your writing?

• Not comfortable - I need a lot more help.

• In the middle - I need additional practice.

• Comfortable - I have mastered appositives and can teach someone what I have learned.

Which type of appositive requires commas?

• Nonessential

• Essential

Identify the appositive:

Although my sister Loretta disapproves of the on-court temper tantrums, she still thinks Robbie is cute.

• my sister

• Robbie

• on-court temper tantrums

• Loretta

Remember the appositive adds detail. If it is essential information,  no commas are needed. Make sure whatever you see as the appositive is the add on not the important information.

•  My mom, a nurse drives a red car.

• My mom, a nurse, drives a red car.

• My mom a nurse drives a red car.

Which is punctuated correctly?
The giant plane, a Boeing 747, launched into the air.
The giant plane, a Boeing 747 launched into the air.
The giant plane a Boeing 747, launched into the air.
The giant plane a Boeing 747 launched into the air.

• The giant plane, a Boeing 747, launched into the air.

• The giant plane, a Boeing 747 launched into the air.

• The giant plane a Boeing 747, launched into the air.

• The giant plane a Boeing 747 launched into the air.

An appositive can be set apart by 1 or 2 commas.

• Yes

• No