English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Appositives and Appositive Phrases
Chapter 7 Phrases and Clauses
Part 3 Sentence Sense

An appositive is a noun or a pronoun that renames another noun or pronoun. Appositives are placed directly after the nouns or pronouns they identify. Appositive phrases are nouns or pronouns with modifiers.

Lisa, a friend, should have understood my fear.

The appositive “a friend” renames the noun Lisa.

Tom’s new car, a PT Cruiser, ran out of gas on the highway.

The appositive “a PT Cruiser” renames the noun car.

Lisa, a dear old friend, should have understood my fear.

The appositive phrase “a dear old friend” renames the noun Lisa.

Tom’s new car, a cherry red convertible PT Cruiser, ran out of gas on the highway.

The appositive phrase “a cherry red convertible PT Cruiser” renames the noun car.