Reduce Wordy Clauses to Appositives

Start with Identify Appositive Phrases, then move to writing and punctuation. Use the adjective clause sheet as a check once students can find appositives.

Shorten sentences by cutting who is, who was or which is, keeping the appositive and its commas. An appositive is a noun phrase that renames the noun beside it, so it can often replace a wordier clause and say the same thing in fewer words. The directions on the page read: Rewrite each sentence on the 2 lines so it is shorter. Remove the words who is, who was or which is, and keep the appositive phrase and its commas. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 7th 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.

It is a group of words built around a noun that renames the noun right beside it. The Danube, the second longest river in Europe, flows through ten countries. The phrase in the middle is the appositive.

A nonessential appositive adds extra information and takes commas. An essential appositive tells which one you mean and takes none. Essential and Nonessential Appositives has students write E or N.

An appositive phrase renames a noun and has no verb of its own. An adjective clause describes a noun and has its own subject and verb.

Use one comma after an appositive that opens a sentence, one comma before one that ends it and a comma on each side of one in the middle.