Appositive Phrase: Defining Nouns & Pronouns

Let’s define an appositive or an appositive phrase.

What are Appositives?

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that identifies, explains, or defines another noun or pronoun in a sentence. It can be regarded as restrictive or nonrestrictive depending on its importance to the meaning of the sentence.

An appositive is nonrestrictive or nonessential if it can be removed without sacrificing the thought of the sentence. Use commas to frame the appositive or appositive phrase in such cases. Commas are not needed if the appositive is restrictive or essential to the meaning of the noun or pronoun it identifies. However, there are a few exceptions we’ll delve into later.

For example, here are sentences with the appositives in bold and noun or pronoun italicized.

• Her friend Yvie looked bored during the party. [The appositive Yvie doesn’t need a comma because it is important to identify which friend is being defined.]

• The Nile River, the longest river in the world, is also called the father of African rivers. [The appositive the longest river has the same meaning as Nile River.]

Commas and Appositives

In the example above, “the longest river in the world” is an appositive phrase identifying “Nile River.” We can remove “the longest river” without obscuring the meaning of the sentence because the appositive is nonrestrictive.

For example, here are more nonrestrictive appositives.

• Kamala Harris, the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, is an inspiration to many. 
• Ellis Grey, a famed general surgeon, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.   

NOTE: Although usually seen in the middle, an appositive can also begin or end a sentence. Use a comma to set off the appositive that begins or ends a sentence.

• A strong and independent woman, Rose raised her two children on her own. [Use a comma between the appositive and the independent clause in the sentence.]
• Young and naïve, she believed he was the only guy who will love her.

More Examples Showing a Nonrestrictive Appositive or Appositive Phrase:

Wrong: A pompous student Mario offended the whole class with his remark. 
Correct: A pompous student, Mario offended the whole class with his remark.

Wrong: Danny loves going back to Baguio City. His late mother’s hometown. 
Correct: Danny loves going back to Baguio City, his late mother’s hometown.

NOTE: Appositives and appositive phrases cannot stand alone as a sentence. Therefore, don’t set them off with periods, but use commas where necessary. 

Wrong: I’ve always dreamed of visiting the Louvre Museum. The national museum and art gallery of France.
Correct: I’ve always dreamed of visiting the Louvre Museum, the national museum and art gallery of France.

Wrong: A French National Police cryptographer. Sophie Neveu helped Langdon solve the mystery of the Louvre curator’s death.
Correct: A French National Police cryptographer, Sophie Neveu helped Langdon solve the mystery of the Louvre curator’s death. 

Related Reading: Sentence Fragment – Lacking Components

No Need for Commas around a Restrictive Appositive or Appositive Phrase

When an appositive or appositive phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence, do not enclose it with commas. In other words, you’ll know if the appositive is essential or restrictive if its absence will alter the entire thought of the sentence. 

Wrong: My professor, Jason, won the Best Dissertation award last year. 
Correct: My professor Jason won the Best Dissertation award last year. 

No commas are used because the appositive Jason is vital to identify the noun professor. There are many professors who might have won the Best Dissertation awards last year, but Jason is the one being referred to in this sentence.

For example, here are some sentences with restrictive appositives and appositive phrases. 

• The legendary author Mark Twain wrote A Tale of Two Cities in 1859. 
  [Commas are not needed because the appositive Mark Twain is essential to the sentence. In other words, we would not know who the legendary author was without including the appositive. Therefore, the sentence would be incomplete without it.]

• Have you read the story of Goliath the giant? 
• Activist filmmaker Lino Brocka died at a very young age.
• Did you watch the movie Fight Club? 

Exercise:

Rewrite the following sentences and place the appositives in their proper places. Make sure to use commas where necessary. Lastly, bolden the appositive or appositive phrase after writing the sentence correctly.

1. Ellie grew up in Siargao Island. A teardrop-shaped small island in Mindanao.
2. My favorite professor Mrs. Locsin is retiring next year. 
3. Only two meals were served. Mushroom soup and fried chicken.
4. Hazel her student is a promising leader.
5. Mandy built a fashion boutique and designed her own clothes. A creative soul.

Answers:

1. Ellie grew up in Siargao Island, a teardrop-shaped small island in Mindanao.
2. My favorite professor, Mrs. Locsin, is retiring next year. 
3. Only two meals were served, mushroom soup and fried chicken.
4. Her student Hazel is a promising leader.
5. A creative soul, Mandy built a fashion boutique and designed her own clothes. 

Thank you for reading. We hope it’s effective! Always feel free to revisit this page if you ever have any questions about an appositive or appositive phrase.

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Conjunctions: Connecting Words and Phrases

Pronouns: Substitution Over Repetition