Appositive Phrase: What Is It & How To Use in Writing

Sentences often contain more than a basic subject and verb. There are many ways to add more information to a sentence. An appositive phrase is one way to provide additional information about a subject or object.

Let's take an in-depth look at appositive noun phrases. We'll cover what they are and how to write them. We’re ap-positive you’ll be an expert in no time!

What Is an Appositive Phrase?

An appositive noun phrase is a type of noun phrase that provides additional information about the subject or objects of a sentence. To understand appositive phrases, we need to define what a noun phrase is.

Noun phrases are a group of words that include a noun and its modifiers, even if the modifiers are just an article like "a" or "the." Here are a few examples of noun phrases:

• The plate on the dining table
• The cat from the shelter
• A little boy
• Two dogs

An appositive phrase is a specific type of noun phrase. Its purpose is to add bonus information to a subject or object. The appositive phrase might provide clarification about a noun, or it might simply be extraneous information.

Don't confuse appositive phrases with noun clauses. A noun clause is a clause with a subject and a verb that functions as a noun. For example, "I believe that love matters most."

Here are a few appositive phrase examples. The appositive or appositive noun phrase is bolded in each example. The noun it is modifying is underlined.

• The 44th president, Barack Obama, wrote a memoir.
• I gave a treat to my dog, Darwin.
• Matthew McConaughey, the Academy Award-winning actor, is from Texas.

Sometimes, an appositive might just be one word, usually a proper noun, as in the second example above. Typically, an appositive phrase has at least two words: an article and a noun.

What Is the Difference between an Appositive Phrase and a Participial Phrase?

It's easy to confuse participial phrases with appositive phrases. Both are groups of words that add additional information to a noun in a sentence.

However, a participial phrase contains a participle, also known as a verbal. This is a word derived from a verb, either in the past tense form or ending in “-ing,” used as an adjective. Here's an example of a participial phrase in action:

• I saw her crying on the couch.

An appositive phrase does not contain a participle. It is comprised of a noun and any of the noun's modifiers.

What Are the Two Types of Appositive Phrases?

There are two types of appositives and appositive phrases. Nonrestrictive appositives, also called nonessential appositives, provide information about the noun that is not essential to the sentence. The sentence will still make sense if you remove the appositive phrase.

A restrictive appositive, which is also known as an essential appositive phrase, provides essential information. The sentence will not make sense without it or at least be too vague to fully understand.

Let's look at two appositive examples. Once again, the appositive is bolded and the noun it modifies is underlined. Can you determine which one is an essential appositive phrase and which one is nonrestrictive?

• Diwali, a five-day festival, is the largest holiday in India.
• My coworker Linda is on maternity leave.

The first example is a nonrestrictive appositive phrase. "A five-day festival" is extra information; the sentence would still make sense if we removed it.

The second sentence features a restrictive appositive phrase. If you came up to me randomly and said, "Linda is on maternity leave," I would wonder who Linda is. Are you talking about a friend? An aunt? The appositive is restrictive because it makes the sentence less vague.

You might notice another difference in these appositive examples. Let's look at how we write these two types of appositives.

How Do I Write an Appositive Phrase?

Appositive phrases can go before or after the noun they modify. How you punctuate them depends on whether it is a nonrestrictive or restrictive phrase.

Where Do I Put Commas with a Nonrestrictive Appositive Phrase?

If you are writing a nonrestrictive appositive, you must include commas or another form of punctuation. Nonrestrictive appositive phrases are considered a type of parenthetical phrase. They must be set apart from the rest of the sentence.

Typically, we do this with commas. When the nonessential appositive precedes the noun that it modifies, we put a comma between the appositive and the noun. This applies at the beginning or the end of a sentence. Here are two examples:

• A narcissist and a liar, my ex blamed the entire divorce on me.
• We went to dinner with the Blacks, a lovely couple from Britain.

When the nonrestrictive appositive is in the middle of a sentence, we place commas on either side of the phrase.

• I saw Meryl Streep, my favorite actress, at a restaurant in New York.

We can also use other types of punctuation, such as em-dashes and parentheses, to set apart appositive phrases.

• Bluebonnets (the official flower of Texas) are my favorite flower.
• I love Freddie Mercury—the greatest performer of all time.

So remember, if it's a nonessential appositive phrase, use punctuation to set it apart from the rest of the sentence.

Do Restrictive Appositive Phrases Need Commas?

Because restrictive appositives and appositive phrases provide essential information, we do not set them apart with punctuation. Essential appositives do not need commas.

• Esteemed paleontologist Jane Bones is the keynote speaker at Dino Fest.
• I saw your friend Bill at the grocery store.

We need the information provided by the restrictive appositives for clarity or specificity, so we don't use commas.

It's good to know the grammar rules but if you ever forget, ProWritingAid is always there for you. If you ever miss a comma after an appositive, ProWritingAid will highlight and you can fix it easily with one click.

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What Are Some Appositive Phrase Examples?

Now that we understand what appositives are and how to write them, let's take a look at more examples.

What Are Examples of Restrictive Appositives?

First, we'll take a look at essential appositives. Remember, these provide essential information to the sentence's meaning. As in the previous examples, the appositive is bolded and the main noun is underlined.

• We saw the movie Black Widow on opening day.
• My teacher Mr. Dunn is really cool!
• Have you read the story "The Cask of Amontillado"?
• The baseball team The Rangers has never won a World Series.

In all of these, we need the appositive to give more information. There are many movies, stories, and baseball teams. Most people have more than one teacher. The appositive is restrictive because it adds specificity that is essential to the sentence's meaning.

What Are Some Examples of a Nonessential Appositive Phrase?

Now let's take a look at some nonrestrictive appositive phrase examples. These provide extra information, but the sentence makes complete sense without the phrase.

• A type of noun phrase, an appositive modifies a subject or object in a sentence.
• They served my favorite meal—enchiladas!
• Have you seen Elton John, the legendary singer-songwriter, perform live?
• I attended the University of Central Florida, a state school.

All of these sentences are perfectly clear without the appositive, so they are nonessential.

Just remember, like any other grammatical construction, appositives can add variety to your sentence structure.

Now you know everything there is to know about appositive noun phrases. Let us know what other grammar features confuse you!

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