APPOSITIVES Meaning and
Definition
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Appositives are grammatical constructions that consist of a noun or noun phrase placed next to another noun or noun phrase to provide further information, clarification, or identification. They are often used to rename, describe, or explain the preceding noun or pronoun. Appositives are typically set off by commas or dashes, and sometimes by parentheses.
An appositive can function as an adjective or as a noun. When used as an adjective, it modifies the noun alongside which it is placed. For example, in the sentence "John, my neighbor, is a doctor," the appositive "my neighbor" provides additional information about the noun "John."
When used as a noun, an appositive can act as a renaming or specifying element. In the sentence "My dog, a golden retriever, loves to play fetch," the appositive "a golden retriever" identifies and describes the noun "dog."
Appositives can also help to avoid repetition in writing, making the sentence more concise and efficient. They enhance clarity by providing more detail or explanation about the subject or object being referenced.
In summary, appositives are noun or noun phrases placed next to another noun or pronoun to provide additional information, clarification, or identification. They function both as adjectives, describing or modifying the preceding noun, and as nouns themselves, renaming or specifying the noun or pronoun they are placed alongside.
Top Common Misspellings for APPOSITIVES *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for APPOSITIVES
Etymology of APPOSITIVES
The word "appositive" is derived from the Latin term "appositus", which is the past participle form of the verb "appōnere". In Latin, "appōnere" is a combination of the prefix "ad", meaning "to", and the verb "pōnere", meaning "to put" or "to place". Consequently, "appositus" translates to "placed near" or "put next to". It is from this Latin root that the word "appositive" entered the English language.
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