Appositive Phrases
The word "appositive" comes from the Latin for “to put near.” An appositive is a noun (or noun phrase) which you “put near” another noun in order to describe it or identify it. We say that the appositive "renames" the noun.
Here are some examples:
- Mexico City, the biggest city in the world, has many interesting archaeological sites.
- Denver, the capital of Colorado, is the home of the Denver Broncos, the best football team in the U.S.
Check Your Understanding
- Which noun does “the biggest city in the world” rename? (Mexico City)
- Which noun does “the capitol of Colorado” rename? (Denver)
- Which noun does “the best football team in the U.S.” rename? (Denver Broncos)
Appositives are extremely common in journalistic writing, where they are typically used to introduce people and sources.
- Donald Trump, the president of the United States, left Washington today.
- According to Tefel Hall, a teacher at Presidio Middle School, most 7th graders love to play computer games.
If the appositive is short, it can be placed before the noun that it renames, without using a comma.
- President George Bush said, "We must . . . "
- English teacher Tefel Hall says that . . .
Instructions for the quiz:
Identify the underlined phrase.
Big Hint: The last 4 choices are not the answer, since you have not yet studied these phrases.
Example:
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Answer: "My math teacher" is an appositive phrase that renames "Mr. Dawson", so the answer is B.
Quiz