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can appositives start a sentence

by Rene Johns Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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An appositive can come before or after the main noun, and it can be at the beginning, middle or end of a sentence. It has to sit beside the noun it defines. As a noun phrase, an appositive does not have a subject or a predicate, and so does not express a complete thought. Don't overuse appositives in your writing.

Which phrase defines an appositive?

Appositive phrases can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Most times an appositive phrase comes after its noun, but sometimes it comes before. An appositive phrase does not have a subject and predicate, therefore, it is not a complete sentence.

What are examples of appositives?

Mar 11, 2020 · Appositive phrases can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Most times an appositive phrase comes after its noun, but sometimes it comes before. An appositive phrase does not have a subject and predicate, therefore, it is not a complete sentence. About Us.

How to use "apposite" in a sentence?

Commas and appositives. Appositive nouns and noun phrases are often nonrestrictive; that is, they can be omitted from a sentence without obscuring the identity of the nouns they describe. Another word for nonrestrictive is nonessential. Always bookend a nonrestrictive, appositive noun or phrase with commas in the middle of a sentence. If the noun or phrase is placed at the end …

What are appositives phrases?

Punctuation of appositives. In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after …

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Can an appositive be at the beginning of a sentence?

An appositive at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. In each of the examples seen so far, the appositive has referred to the subject of the sentence. However, an appositive may appear before or after any noun in a sentence.May 31, 2018

Can Appositives start with with?

In the second example, the appositive “a well-known lecturer” provides a description of Dr. Smith. Sometimes, appositives and appositive phrases begin with that is, in other words, such as, and for example. Appositives may be considered essential or nonessential depending on the context.Aug 11, 2011

What is an example of a appositive sentence?

What is an Appositive? Appositives are nouns or noun phrases that follow or come before a noun, and give more information about it. For example, The puppy, a golden retriever, is my newest pet.

What is the rule for Appositives?

Rule: When an appositive is essential to the meaning of the noun it belongs to, don't use commas. When the noun preceding the appositive provides sufficient identification on its own, use commas around the appositive.

What are Appositives phrases?

An appositive noun or noun phrase follows another noun or noun phrase in apposition to it; that is, it provides information that further identifies or defines it. Such “bonus facts” are framed by commas unless the appositive is restrictive (i.e., provides essential information about the noun).

What is appositive and appositive phrase?

What Is an Appositive Phrase? An appositive phrase redefines, renames, or modifies a noun with essential or nonessential information. Basically, appositives clarify a noun with another noun or noun phrase that gives a noun extra context.Feb 25, 2022

Can an appositive be one word?

Appositives are nouns, noun phrases, or noun clauses that rename a noun that comes just before them. Remember that an appositivecan be a single word or several words. Appositives can be essential or nonessential. If the appositive is necessary for the meaning of the sentence, then it is essential.

Can Appositives be adjectives?

An Appositive Adjective is a traditional grammatical term for an adjective (or a series of adjectives) that follows a noun and, like a nonrestrictive appositive, is set off by commas or dashes.Feb 20, 2019

Are Appositives always set off by commas?

An appositive is a word or group of words that renames a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Appositives are almost always set off with commas and can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Is an appositive a dependent clause?

Both appositive and adjective clause belongs to this second category, dependent clause. An adjective clause modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. An appositive identifies, defines or renames a noun or pronoun. This is the main difference between appositive and adjective clause.Aug 4, 2016

What is an appositive?

Appositives—What They Are and How to Use Them. An appositive noun or noun phrase follows another noun or noun phrase in apposition to it; that is, it provides information that further identifies or defines it. Such “bonus facts” are framed by commas unless the appositive is restrictive (i.e., provides essential information about the noun).

Is appositive a nonrestrictive noun?

Appositive nouns and noun phrases are often nonrestrictive; that is, they can be omitted from a sentence without obscuring the identity of the nouns they describe. Another word for nonrestrictive is nonessential. Always bookend a nonrestrictive, appositive noun or phrase with commas in the middle of a sentence.

Where is the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece, can be found on the Champs de Mars. This is a sentence about where the Eiffel Tower can be found. The appositive phrase Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece tells us a bit more about the sentence’s subject noun, Eiffel Tower. My childhood friend, Anne-Marie, loved horses.

What is an appositive?

An appositive is a noun or pronoun — often with modifiers — set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it. Here are some examples of appositives (the noun or pronoun will be in blue, the appositive will be in red ). Your friend Bill is in trouble.

What is an appositive phrase?

An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede it. A bold innovator, Wassily Kandinsky is known for his colorful abstract paintings. The first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution, Delaware is rich in history. A beautiful collie, Skip was my favorite dog.

Do you put a comma before or after an appositive?

In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after the appositive.

How to use appositive in a sentence?

Use an appositive to generate a near-repeat, a close copy, of your idea to give it emphasis.

What is an appositive?

An appositive is a noun or a noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename it or to describe it in another way. (The word appositive comes from the Latin for to put near .) Appositives are usually offset with commas, parentheses (round brackets), or dashes. Got it?

Do appositives have commas?

Appositives are usually offset with commas. Dexter, my dog, will chew your shoes if you leave them there. Lee, my Army mate, caught a whelk while fishing for bass. Dr. Pat, the creator of the turnip brew, sold 8 barrels on the first day.

What is a non-restrictive appositive?

When it's just removable bonus information, it's called a non-restrictive appositive. Non-restrictive appositives are always offset with commas, dashes or brackets. Restrictive appositives are usually offset with commas, dashes, or parentheses (round brackets) but not always.

Who is Lou Epstein?

Lou Epstein, the oldest, shortest, and baldest of the three Epstein brothers, barely looked up from the cash register when Alfred entered the store. (extract from The Contender by Robert Lipsyte) It is not uncommon for appositives to be introduced with terms like namely, that is, in other words, and i.e.

Why are appositives important?

If that's true for you, it's something worth overcoming because appositives are useful for providing interesting detail mid-sentence in a way that doesn't wreck your sentence structure, and they can be good for emphasis. So, here are two good reasons to care about appositives.

Who wrote Smashing Grammar?

Buy a grammar book written by Craig Shrives. more... "Smashing Grammar". Written by the founder of Grammar Monster, "Smashing Grammar" includes a comprehensive A-Z glossary of essential grammar terms, a detailed punctuation section, and a chapter on easily confused words.

What does "appositive" mean in a sentence?

What does appositive mean? An appositive is a noun or pronoun. It further identifies or explains another noun or pronoun in a sentence. Almost always an appositive interrupts the flow of a sentence and is therefore set apart with specific punctuation. Appositives are set apart with commons.

What is an appositive?

An appositive is a noun or pronoun. It further identifies or explains another noun or pronoun in a sentence. Almost always an appositive interrupts the flow of a sentence and is therefore set apart with specific punctuation. Appositives are set apart with commons.

What happens when a sentence contains too many appositives?

When a sentence contains too many appositives, the meaning of the sentence can become confusing and the sentence itself difficult to read. Furthermore, overuse of appositives can lead to confusion regarding which noun an appositive is renaming.

What is restrictive appositive?

The previous examples are all non-restrictive. A restrictive appositive is one that cannot be removed from the sentence. It often looks like a non-restrictive appositive but it does not have any punctuation to set it apart. Let’s look at an example to further explain this concept.

What is an appositive?

An appositive is a noun or a noun phrase that renames the noun next to it. It serves the purpose of adding information about another noun. For example, consider the phrase "The boy raced ahead to the finish line. ".

Is "appositive" a noun?

It has to sit beside the noun it defines. As a noun phrase, an appositive does not have a subject or a predicate, and so does not express a complete thought. Don’t overuse appositives in your writing. All it takes is one too many, and a paragraph can become long, cluttered and confusing.

1. What is an Appositive Phrase?

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase ( appositive phrase) that gives another name to the noun right next to it. It adds descriptive words about a specific thing (the noun), which helps make a sentence more detailed; or, it adds essential information to make the sentence’s meaning clear.

2. Examples of an Appositive Phrase

An appositive noun or phrase can come before or after the main noun. It can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, as long as it is right next to the noun it describes. In the examples, appositives are red, and nouns are green.

3. Types of Appositive Phrases

Apposite phrases follow two forms: a noun followed by apposite phrase, or appositive phrase followed by a noun. You can identify an appositive phrase because it is what adds details to the main noun, so, depending on the sentence’s style, sometimes it comes before, and sometimes it comes after.

4. How to Avoid Mistakes

Appositive phrases are easy to spot and pretty simple to use. But, there are still common mistakes! Here are some things to remember:

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from Adjective Clauses to Appositives

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Like an adjective clause, an appositive provides more information about a noun. In fact, we may think of an appositive as a simplified adjective clause. Consider, for example, how the following two sentences can be combined: 1. Jim Gold is a professional magician. 2. Jim Gold performed at my sister's birthday party. One w…
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Arranging Appositives

  • An appositive most often appears directly afterthe noun it identifies or renames: 1. Arizona Bill, "The Great Benefactor of Mankind,"toured Oklahoma with herbal cures and a powerful liniment. Note that this appositive, like most, could be omitted without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. In other words, it's nonrestrictiveand needs to be set off with a pair of commas. Occas…
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Punctuating Nonrestrictive and Restrictive Appositives

  • As we've seen, most appositives are nonrestrictive--that is, the information that they add to a sentence is not essential for the sentence to make sense. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off by commas or dashes. A restrictive appositive (like a restrictive adjective clause) is one that cannot be omitted from a sentence without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence. A restrictive a…
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Four Variations

  • 1. Appositives that Repeat a Noun Although an appositive usually renames a noun in a sentence, it may instead repeata noun for the sake of clarity and emphasis: 1. In America, as in anywhere else in the world, we must find a focus in our lives at an early age, a focus that is beyond the mechanics of earning a living or coping with a household. —San...
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1.How to Build Sentences With Appositives - ThoughtCo

Url:https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-build-sentences-with-appositives-1689672

3 hours ago Appositive phrases can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Most times an appositive phrase comes after its noun, but sometimes it comes before. An appositive phrase does not have a subject and predicate, therefore, it is not a complete sentence.

2.Appositives and Appositive Phrases—How to Use Them

Url:https://www.grammarly.com/blog/appositive/

3 hours ago Mar 11, 2020 · Appositive phrases can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Most times an appositive phrase comes after its noun, but sometimes it comes before. An appositive phrase does not have a subject and predicate, therefore, it is not a complete sentence. About Us.

3.Appositives // Purdue Writing Lab

Url:https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/appositives.html

21 hours ago Commas and appositives. Appositive nouns and noun phrases are often nonrestrictive; that is, they can be omitted from a sentence without obscuring the identity of the nouns they describe. Another word for nonrestrictive is nonessential. Always bookend a nonrestrictive, appositive noun or phrase with commas in the middle of a sentence. If the noun or phrase is placed at the end …

4.What is an appositive? - Grammar Monster

Url:https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/appositive_apposition.htm

5 hours ago Punctuation of appositives. In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after …

5.What is an Appositive? Definition, Examples of Appositive …

Url:https://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/appositive

5 hours ago Can you start a sentence with an appositive? Appositive phrases can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Most times an appositive phrase comes after its noun, but sometimes it comes before. An appositive phrase does not have a subject and predicate, therefore, it is not a complete sentence.

6.Examples of Appositives and Appositive Noun Phrases

Url:https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/nouns/example-of-an-appositive-noun.html

31 hours ago If you were to remove all the shaded text (i.e., the appositives) from the examples above, the sentences would still work. (Reason 2) An appositive can be a way of creating emphasis. An appositive can be used to create emphasis. When used for this purpose, the appositive is often a near-repeat of the initial noun.

7.Appositive Phrase: Examples and Definition - Sentence

Url:https://englishsentences.com/appositive-phrase/

34 hours ago Comma rules with appositives: In most cases, commas punctuate non-restrictive appositives. The appositive may be placed anywhere in a sentence so long as it directly follows the noun it identifies. Examples of appositives that: Begin a sentence Shari, my friend, plays tennis.

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