Appositive

Definition of Appositive:

If two nouns are placed next to each other in the same sentence, they refer to the same person/thing. But the second noun is called appositive or case in appositive of the first noun.

Usually the second noun provides additional information about the first noun. Appositives act as noun phrases in sentences. Appositives should be preceded and followed by commas.

For example: Mr. Golam Rahman, manager of this company, is a good man.

Multidimensional Uses of the Appositive

(1) Use of Appositives as Nominative Case:

Mr. Tazul Islam, a famous singer, is a nice man. In the above sentence “a famous singer” the noun phrase is Mr. Tazul Islam is giving additional information about him because the noun phrase is Appositives. Note that the appositives are placed after the subject.

(2) Use of Appositives as Objective Case:

We met Mr. Talukdar, a novelist, is a wise man. In the sentence above, the noun phrase ‘a novelist’ sits after the object in ‘Mr Talukdar’ and provides additional information about it, so the noun phrase is appositive. Note that appositives come after the object.

(3) Use of Appositives as Possessive Case:

I have read Rabindranath, the poet’s work. In the sentence above “the poet’s work” is an appositive. This appositive indicates possession over its preceding noun Rabindranath. Moreover, the work can be started by appositives in all cases, the appositives will sit before the noun that wants to provide information about the noun. For example: The greatest dramatist, William Shakespeare, was a man of extraordinary genius.

Note: Students should study all the concepts of this chapter thoroughly to get a complete understanding of all the concepts in this chapter. If you master the discussed concepts, it will be possible to write the correct answer to the 2nd question. If the concept is incomplete, it is necessary to study it again and again to get a complete understanding of that particular concept. It is better not to practice until the concept is complete. Once the basic concepts are fully understood, try to answer the 2nd question with full confidence and spirit.

Why is Appositive used in English Grammar?

Appositives are used in English Grammar mainly for the following purposes:

To identify or characterize a Noun or Pronoun:

The man, a doctor, was very kind.In this sentence, “doctor” is an appositive identifying “man”.

To add an additional information to a Noun or Pronoun:

My friend, who is a doctor, is very kind. In this sentence, “who is a doctor” is an appositive that adds an additional piece of information to “friend”.

To add a synonym or phrase to a Noun or Pronoun:

The new president, the leader of the country, was sworn in yesterday. In this sentence, “the leader of the country” is an appositive adding a word or phrase that is synonymous with “president”. Appositives are usually surrounded by a specific punctuation mark, such as a comma or colon. However, in some cases, Appositives can be used without punctuation.

While using Appositives, the following points should be kept in mind:

Appositives are usually associated with a Noun or Pronoun. Appositives usually add an additional piece of information or explanation to a sentence. Appositives are usually surrounded by a specific punctuation mark. By using Appositive, we can make our sentences more clear and informative.

The appositive part can usually be a noun, pronoun, noun phrase, or clause. The appositive part is used instead of the original noun or pronoun. The appositive part is separated from the main noun or pronoun by a comma.

Sample questions of Appositive in the exam will be as follows

Appositives are generally of two types:

Determining Types of Appositives: In this type of question, the appositive part of a sentence will be given and the candidates will have to identify the type of that appositive part.

Example: The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is a beautiful city.
In this sentence “Dhaka” is the appositive part of “capital of Bangladesh“. This appositive part is a noun appositive.

Determining the function of Appositives: In this type of question, the appositive part of a sentence will be given and the candidates will have to determine the function of that appositive part.

Example: My mother, a doctor, is very kind.
In this sentence “a doctor” is the appositive part of “my mother“. This appositive part is functioning as a noun modifier of “my mother”.

Some Appositives Exercise for you

Exercise 1: Identify the appositives in the following sentences.

The capital of France, Paris, is a beautiful city.
The dog, a golden retriever, was very friendly.
My favorite book, “The Lord of the Rings,” is a classic.
The man, my father, is a doctor.
The woman, who is my mother, is a teacher.

Answers:

Paris
golden retriever
“The Lord of the Rings”
my father
my mother

Exercise 2: Add appositives to the following sentences.

The house is blue.
The cat is playing.
The man is walking.
The woman is talking.
The dog is barking.

Answers:

1. The house, a Victorian-style home, is blue.
2. The cat, a playful kitten, is playing.
3. The man, a tall, thin man, is walking.
4. The woman, a beautiful woman, is talking.
5. The dog, a friendly Labrador retriever, is barking.

Exercise 3: Revise the following sentences to remove the appositives.

1. The capital of France, Paris, is a beautiful city.
2. The dog, a golden retriever, was very friendly.
3. My favorite book, “The Lord of the Rings,” is a classic.
4. The man, my father, is a doctor.
5. The woman, who is my mother, is a teacher.

Answers:

1. Paris is a beautiful city.
2. A golden retriever was very friendly.
3. “The Lord of the Rings” is a classic.
4. My father is a doctor.
5. My mother is a teacher.

Exercise 4: Write a paragraph about a person you know. Use at least three appositives in your paragraph.

Answer:

My best friend, a kind and compassionate person, is always there for me. He is a loyal companion, a source of knowledge, and a source of humor. I am grateful to have him in my life.