10-03 Position of Appositive Phrases

Modern English part II—Sentence & Complex Structures
Exercises for Non-native Speakers

10-3 POSITION OF APPOSITIVE PHRASES
pp. 172~174
The most common position for appositive phrase is after the nouns they
refers to.
His uncle, a proud and unbending man, refused all help that was
offered him.
Charles, eager to get ahead in his career, worked hard day and night.
Appositive phrases that refer to the subject of the main verb may also
occupy the two other adverbial positions that nonrestrictive participial
phrases do.
Initial position A proud and unbending man, his uncle refused all help
that was offered him.
Eager to get ahead in his career, Charles worked hard
day and night.
(In this position, the appositive phrase often expresses
cause, sometimes concession.)
Final position His uncle refused all help that was offered him, a proud
(less common) and unbending man.
Charles worked hard day and night, eager to get ahead
in his career.
Nonrestrictive phrase require commas in whatever position they are used.
A less common alternative for appositive phrases having the meaning of

cause is the participial phrase beginning with being－Being eager to get
ahead in his career.
Change the italicized adjective or adverbial clauses to nonrestrictive

appositive phrases. Be careful of the punctuation. Note all acceptable
positions for these phrases.
EXAMPLE: a. The child, who was afraid to be seen crying, dried her
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tears quickly.
The child, afraid to be seen crying, dried her tears quickly.
or Afraid to be seen crying, the child dried her tears
quickly.
or The child dried her tears quickly, afraid to be seen
crying.
b. Because he was happy to receive a promotion, the young
man worked very hard.
Happy to receive a promotion, the young man worked
very hard.
or The young man, happy to receive a promotion, worked
very hard.
b. Although he was once calm and considerate of others, he
became eccentric and self-centered in his old age.
Once calm and considerate of others, he became eccentric
and self-centered in his old age.
1. The town, which was once a prosperous seaport, is now completely

deserted.
The town, once a prosperous seaport, is now completely deserted.
Once a prosperous seaport, the town is now completely deserted.
2. Because he was seriously ill, the boy had to be taken to the hospital
at once.
Seriously ill, the boy had to be taken to the hospital at once.
The boy, seriously ill, had to be taken to the hospital at once.
3. The Johnsons, who were curious about their new neighbors, went to
visit them at the first opportunity.
The Johnsons, curious about their new neighbors, went to visit them at
the first opportunity.
Curious about their neighbors, the Johnsons went to visit them at the
first opportunity.
4. Because they were desperate about the state of their finances, the
company decided to declare bankruptcy.
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Desperate about the state of their finances, the company decided to

declare bankruptcy.
The company, desperate about the state of their finances, decided to
declare bankruptcy.
The company decided to declare bankruptcy, desperate about the state
of their finances.
5. The young man, who was bored with college, decided to drop out and
go to work.
The young man, bored with college, decided to drop out and go to
work.
Bored with college, the young man decided to drop out and go to
work.
6. Although he was generally gruff and blunt in his behavior, he was
known to be very gentle with children.
Generally gruff and blunt in his behavior, he was known to e very
gentle with children.
7. Because she was by far the best student in the class, Jane was chosen to
take part in a youth forum on television.
By far the best student in the class, Jane was chosen to take part in a
youth forum on television.
Jane, by far the best student in the class, was chosen to take part in a
youth forum on television.
8. The Italian immigrant, who was homesick for his native land, saved
enough money to go back for along visit.
The Italian immigrant, homesick for his native land, saved enough
money to go back for along visit.
Homesick for his native land, the Italian immigrant saved enough
money to go back for a long visit.
9. Because he was deathly afraid of airplanes, he took the train whenever

he could.
Deadly afraid of airplanes, he took the train whenever he could.
10. Although he was a tyrant in the office, at home he was kind and
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gentle.
A tyrant in the office, at home he was kind and gentle.
11. Although they were once the best of friends, the two men stopped
speaking to each other because of a bitter quarrel.
Once the best of friends, the two men stopped speaking to each other
because of a bitter quarrel.
The two men, once the best of friends, stopped speaking to each other
because of a bitter quarrel.
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10-03 Position of Appositive Phrases

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Modern English part II—Sentence & Complex Structures

Exercises for Non-native Speakers

Nonrestrictive phrase require commas in whatever position they are used.

A less common alternative for appositive phrases having the meaning of

Change the italicized adjective or adverbial clauses to nonrestrictive

1. The town, which was once a prosperous seaport, is now completely

Desperate about the state of their finances, the company decided to

9. Because he was deathly afraid of airplanes, he took the train whenever

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