Long Appositive Phrases and Their Commas

Begin with the biography paragraph so students find appositives in real prose. Then move to the combining sheets and finish with the comma sheet as a quick check.

Add missing commas around long appositives about famous ships like the Endurance and the Mayflower. An appositive phrase renames a noun next to it. Set it off with a comma after it at the start, commas on both sides in the middle and a comma before it at the end. The directions on the page read: Each sentence has one long appositive phrase at the start, in the middle or at the end, but its commas are missing. Add every comma the appositive needs. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade sentences, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

Commas set off an appositive when the sentence still names the same person or thing without it. Use a comma after it at the start, commas on both sides in the middle and a comma before it at the end.

An appositive is built on a noun, a participial phrase starts with an ing or ed verb form and a clause has its own subject and verb. Appositive, Participial Phrase or Clause? practices telling them apart.

Yes. Two appositives can rename two different nouns, as in Ana, a baker, sold her best bread, a honey loaf. Combine Three Sentences With Two Appositives practices this with inventors such as Mary Anderson.