University of Batna 2 Department of English Second-Year Classes

Module: Grammar Teacher:N.Kissoum

Appositive Phrases (Exercises)

Exercise 1: Identify and underline the appositive found in each sentence. Draw an arrow to the noun it
modifies.

1. The monkey, a nimble animal, is often found in the jungle.

2. Dave Lewis, a teacher at Lawson, works with many aspiring musicians.

3. Before you trash Bobo, your last childhood stuffed animal, consider saving it.

4. The coast of Africa, one of the world's largest continents, is a prosperous trading region.

5. Mr. Sonntag hired two new teachers, Mr. Davies and Ms. Parker.

6. The fastest animal, the peregrine falcon, can travel more than 100 miles per hour at certain times.

7. Our family visited The Smithsonian Institution, a vast network of galleries in Washington, D.C.

8. Our neighbor and his daughters, Parvi and Sonya, take walks every evening.

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

10. The flashlight should be returned to Mark, the owner.

Exercise 2: Combine the following sentences using appositive phrases. Punctuate the appositives as
needed.

1. The California coastline is the longest of all the states. The California coastline is a national treasure.
2. The sick elephant attacked its trainer. The sick elephant is the one in the third cage.
3. The basketball players make millions of dollars a year. Kobe makes millions of dollars a year. Shaq
makes millions of dollars a year. (Hint: Use a connective word.)
4. The careless man shot a condor. The condor is the rarest bird in California.
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only child of a wealthy couple. He was elected president four times.
6. He inspired the American people by speaking on the radio. The radio was the latest technological
achievement at that time.
7. Americans everywhere listened to these speeches. The speeches were called his “fireside chats.”
8. Though busy as president, Franklin Roosevelt found time for hobbies. He enjoyed working on his
stamp albums and building models of ships.
9. Eleanor Roosevelt represented the United States in the United Nations. She was the niece of
Theodore Roosevelt and wife of Franklin Roosevelt.

Exercise 3:

 Underline the appositive.

 Identify the appositive as restrictive (no commas) or nonrestrictive (commas).
 Punctuate the appositive appropriately.

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1. One of their favorite baseball players Barry Bonds played for the San Francisco Giants.

2. My third grade teacher Mrs. Brown is now retired.

3. President Obama the popular US president usually presents eloquent speeches.

4. The Lincoln Memorial a beautiful structure is located near the Washington Monument.

5. Sally Bill’s younger sister is afraid of heights.

6. Your cousin Danielle has beautiful hair.

7. Elvis Presley my favorite musician will be legendary for decades to come.

8. A credible author Stephen King has written many horror novels.

9. My neighbor Ann an elderly woman loves to plant her own vegetables.

10. The famous musician Stevie Wonder is completely blind.

Exercise 4: Underline the appositive or appositive phrase in the following sentences. Underline twice
the word that the appositive or appositive phrase renames or identifies.

1. Franklin Pierce had dark, curly hair, his one outstanding physical feature.
2. James Buchanan relied on his niece Harriet as his official hostess.
3. Young Abraham Lincoln, a gangling boy, was largely self-educated.
4. While in the White House, Lincoln was saddened by death of his son Willie.
5. Of all his children, only Lincoln’s son Robert lived to adulthood.

Exercise 5: Rewrite each of the following sentences, adding the appositive phrase shown in
parentheses. Use commas if necessary.

1. Ulysses S. Grant was surprisingly gentle with people and animals. (a military genius)
2. Grant was praised as the man most responsible for the Union victory in the Civil War. (a graduate of West
Point)
3. President Grant is buried in New York City. (the largest city on the East Coast)
4. President Theodore Roosevelt read Kenneth Grahame’s book to his children often. (The Wind in the
Willows)
5. Roosevelt became the namesake of one of America’s favorite toys. (the teddy bear)
6. Presidential cow lived on the White House grounds during William H. Taft’s term of office. (Mooly
Wooly)
7. Taft once got stuck in the bathtub. (an extremely large man)

N.KISSOUM