#122 - Appositives #1 - English Grammar

Appositives are nouns or phrases that further describe the noun right next to it. Appositive nouns can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive.

Restrictive Appositive Nouns

A restrictive appositive noun provides additional information for the noun it is describing. Without a restrictive appositive noun, the sentence will appear to be missing important information.
Commas are not necessary when adding a restrictive appositive noun.

My friend's dog Charlie bites people.
The store clerk Sally is nice to customers.
My friend Joe is graduating from college.
My brother Jeff is not married.
Our co-worker Janet works very hard.
The famous painter Pablo Picasso is my favorite artist.

Nonrestrictive Appositive Nouns

A nonrestrictive appositive noun gives additional information for the noun it is referring to. However, it is not necessary for the sentence to be clear. A nonrestrictive appositive noun is separated by a comma or placed in between two commas.

My mom, Linda, is a chef.
I am meeting with the school principal, Mr. James.
Buddy, the Scottish terrier, is scared of cats.
Dr. Wells, a Harvard graduate, is my daughter's pediatrician.
The Labrador Retriever, my favorite dog, is a great family pet.
She is having lunch with her mother-in-law, Terri.