SAT/ACT Grammar

The Appositive

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a
short or long combination of words. Look at the appositive examples, all of which rename insect:

The insect, a cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table.

The insect, a large cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table.

The insect, a large cockroach with hairy legs, is crawling across the kitchen table.

The insect, a large, hairy-legged cockroach that has spied on my bowl of oatmeal, is crawling across
the kitchen table.

Here are more examples:

During the dinner conversation, Clifford, the messiest eater at the table, spewed mashed potatoes like
an erupting volcano.

My 486 computer, a modern-day dinosaur, chews floppy disks as noisily as my brother does peanut
brittle.

Genette’s bedroom desk, the biggest disaster area in the house, is a collection of overdue library
books, dirty plates, computer components, old mail, cat hair, and empty potato chip bags.

Reliable, Diane’s eleven-year-old beagle, chews holes in the living room carpeting as if he were still a
puppy.

Punctuate the appositive correctly. The important point to remember is that a nonrestrictive (nonessential)
appositive is always separated from the rest of the sentence with comma(s).

When the appositive begins the sentence, it looks like this:

A hot-tempered tennis player, Robbie charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man’s skull with
a racket.

When the appositive interrupts the sentence, it looks like this:

Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis player, charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man’s skull with
a racket.

And when the appositive ends the sentence, it looks like this:

Upset by the bad call, the crowd cheered Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis player who charged the
umpire and tried to crack the poor man’s skull with a racket.
Part I: Identify and underline the appositive found in each sentence.

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.

Part III. Combine the following sentences using appositive phrases. Punctuate and underline the appositives that
are used.

11. A. The California coastline is the longest of all the states.

B. The California coastline is a national treasure.

The California coastline the longest of all the States

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
is a national treasure
12. A. The sick elephant attacked its trainer.
B. The sick elephant is the one in the third cage.

the third cage

____________________________________________________________________________________
The sick elephant the one in
____________________________________________________________________________________
attacked its trainer
13. A. The careless man shot a condor.
B. The condor is the rarest bird in California.
____________________________________________________________________________________
man
The careless shot a Condor the
____________________________________________________________________________________ rarest
bird in California
14. A. The basketball players make millions of dollars a year.
B. Kobe makes millions of dollars a year. (Hint: Use a connective word.)
C. Shaq makes millions of dollars a year.
____________________________________________________________________________________
the baskeo all players Kobe and
Shaq make
____________________________________________________________________________________
millions of dollars a year
 Restrictive (Essential) vs. Nonrestrictive Appositives (Nonessential)

Appositives may or may not be crucial to identify the noun or noun phrase.

If an appositive is necessary to understand the identity of the noun or noun phrase that is being modified, the
appositive is restrictive (essential) Restrictive (Essential) appositives are not set off with commas.

Mark’s teacher John Smith served in the army.

If we removed the appositive, we would understand that Mark’s teacher served in the army, but the sentence
loses clarity. Without the appositive, we are unsure which of Mark’s teachers is being referred to. Therefore,
this appositive is restrictive (essential) and has no commas.

If an appositive is unnecessary to understand the identity of the noun or noun phrase it is identifying, it is
nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off with commas.

Fred’s biology teacher, Ted Jones, served in the navy.

If we removed the appositive, we would still understand that Fred’s biology teacher served in the navy.
Although the appositive adds details to the sentence, the audience already understands which specific teacher
is being referred to; including the name is unnecessary. Therefore, this appositive is nonrestrictive.

Exercise:

• Underline the appositive.

• Identify the appositive a s restrictive (no commas) or nonrestrictive (commas) .
• Punctuate the appositive appropriately.
restrictive
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. restrictive

3. President Obama the popular US president usually presents eloquent speeches.
it nonrestrictive
4. The Lincoln Memorial a beautiful structure is located near the Washington Monument.
r r nonrestric
5. Sally Bill’s younger sister is afraid of heights. nonrestrictive
6. Your cousin Danielle has beautiful hair.
restrictive
7. Elvis Presley my favorite musician will be legendary for decades to come.
I 1 nonrestrictive
8. A credible author Stephen King has written many horror novels.
restrictive
9. My neighbor Ann an elderly woman loves to plant her own vegetables. non
10. The famous musician Stevie Wonder is completely blind.