grammar lesson 13 and diagramming

Grammar Lesson 13 & Diagramming

English 10

Mr. Hill

Important Notice

Grammar Lessons 11 & 12 in the book are being skipped in class discussion because the topics (nouns and pronouns) are very basic concepts and should already have been mastered by this level of English.

YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MATERIAL IN THESE CHAPTERS FOR THE GRAMMAR TEST THAT WILL COVER LESSONS 1-13.

Lesson 13: Appositives

Contrary to the verbals presented in Lesson 10, appositives will not represent action normally found in a verb.

Instead, appositives are nouns or pronouns that are used “in apposition” to another noun or pronoun.


“In apposition” means that the noun or pronoun that is the appositive is “placed next to or beside” another noun or pronoun.

The purpose of the appositive word is to rename or stand for the noun or pronoun next to it.


Examples: At camp we met Mr. Smithson, the

scoutmaster. Our first dog, Sparky, died almost two

years ago. The two senior members of the group, Ted

and Samantha, voted against the proposal.


Remember that the appositive has to be a noun or a pronoun and must rename or replace the noun or pronoun with which it is connected.

The appositive can also be taken out of the sentence and the sentence will remain grammatically correct.


Appositives are also usually set off by commas and appear after the noun or pronoun they are replacing.

The only time this rule is not used is when the appositive is going to be a list of items to replace one word and the list appears at the very end of the sentence. Then a colon is used.


Example:

We took only the bare essentials: blankets, toothbrushes, a few pots and pans and food.


Another exception is when the appositive is very simple and very closely related to the word with which it is connected. Then no punctuation is needed.

Example: My friend Bob is getting married.


An appositive can also be in the form of a phrase.

These are created by attaching modifiers to the main appositive word. These are often very easy to spot because of the commas.


Examples: Our instructor, a difficult and challenging

person, always gives us horrible exams. This term paper, the worst assignment in

the history of English, is killing my grade. My grade, a failing mark after the last

test, is going to get me in a lot of trouble at home.


PRACTICE WITH APPOSITIVES:

WRITE DOWN THE APPOSITIVE OR APPOSITIVE PHRASE IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES

IF IT’S A PHRASE, UNDERLINE THE APPOSITIVE WORD IN THE PHRASE


1. My friend the blacksmith gave me a horseshoe.

2. The capital city, Halifax, is a major seaport, the western terminus of many passenger and freight ships.

3. There is a serious weakness in your whole scheme: lack of money.


4. You older boys can take my car, the Ford station wagon.

5. It was decided that Dr. Lawrence, a member of the faculty, should be the spokesman for our group.

6. We sent a very diplomatic reply, one which should have pleased everybody.


7. Two of us, Harriet and I, are reading the popular thriller, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold.

8. The whole Collins family – mother, father, and three children – piled into the back seat.

9. Most of the growers only produce two varieties: McIntosh and Delicious.


10. Your sister Jean has been dating a classmate of mine, Arthur Robusin.


ANSWERS TO PRACTICE

SENTENCES


1. My friend the blacksmith gave me a horseshoe.

2. The capital city, Halifax, is a major seaport, the western terminus of many passenger and freight ships.

3. There is a serious weakness in your whole scheme: lack of money.


4. You older boys can take my car, the Ford station wagon.

5. It was decided that Dr. Lawrence, a member of the faculty, should be the spokesman for our group.

6. We sent a very diplomatic reply, one which should have pleased everybody.


7. Two of us, Harriet and I, are reading the popular thriller, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold.

8. The whole Collins family – mother, father, and three children – piled into the back seat.

9. Most of the growers only produce two varieties: McIntosh and Delicious.


10. Your sister Jean has been dating a classmate of mine, Arthur Robusin.

grammar lesson 13 and diagramming

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