APPOSITIVES/NOUNS IN APPOSITION detail discussion of uses and structure-restrictive/nonrestrictive
Channel: Shiksha Mantra
Date: 2020-05-08

APPOSITIVES/NOUNS IN APPOSITION detail discussion of uses and structure-restrictive/nonrestrictive
What They Are and How to Use Them
(The word appositive comes from the Latin for to put near.)
An appositive is a noun or a noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename it or to describe it in another way, that is, it provides information that further identifies or defines it. 
Appositives are usually offset with commas, parentheses (round brackets), or dashes.
Such “bonus facts” are framed by commas unless the appositive is restrictive (i.e., provides essential information about the noun).
Appositives are usually offset with commas.
Dexter, my dog, will bark if you are not expected by him to be here.
Appositives can also be offset with parentheses (round brackets) or dashes.
What is Parentheses?
A word or phrase inserted as an explanation or afterthought into a passage which is grammatically complete without it, in writing usually marked off by brackets, dashes, or commas.
a pair of round brackets ( ) used to mark off a parenthetical word or phrase.
Paritosh (my mate from school) is the winner of the Sahitya Academy Award this year.
Restrictive and Non-restrictive Appositives
Often an appositive will just provide bonus information that could be removed without destroying the meaning. Sometimes, however, removing an appositive will leave you with a question.
When an appositive is essential for understanding, it is called a restrictive appositive. 
When it's just removable bonus information, it's called a non-restrictive appositive.
1. Non-restrictive appositives are always offset with commas, dashes or brackets. 
2. Restrictive appositives are usually offset with commas, dashes, or parentheses (round brackets) but not always.
When a restrictive appositive is not offset with punctuation (as in the two examples above and the first example below), the structure will be [generic term-specific term], as opposed to [specific term-generic term].
Commas and Appositives
Appositive nouns and noun phrases are often nonrestrictive; that is, they can be omitted from a sentence without obscuring the identity of the nouns they describe. Another word for nonrestrictive is nonessential. Always bookend a nonrestrictive, appositive noun or phrase with commas in the middle of a sentence. If the noun or phrase is placed at the end of a sentence, it should be preceded by a comma.
Use Commas to Frame Nonrestrictive Elements
Depending on the tone you want to achieve and the context, you may also choose either parentheses or brackets to frame a nonrestrictive appositive phrase.
My friend, Manjit , owes me fifty rupees.
My friend Manjit owes me fifty rupees.
There are no commas here because Manjit is an essential description of my friend. We can assume from this sentence that the speaker has many friends, but the one who owes him or her money is Manjit.
 The unlikely circumstance under which the first sentence could be construed as correct would be if the speaker has only one confirmed friend, and that friend’s name is Manjit. This is probably too much to consider now-a-days. Does any one of you have one confirmed friend?

Now think of a bicycle again, except now without the basket. This is the restrictive appositive bicycle. If anyone wants to hitch a ride on this bicycle, he or she will have to ride with the flowers in his / her hand. With this type of appositive, there is no disconnection between the rider and the bunch of flowers. The restrictive appositive bicycle tinkles out of sight—without commas. 
So, here are two good reasons to care about appositives.
(Reason 1) Appositives are an efficient way to add information.
 (Reason 2) An appositive can be a way of creating emphasis.
An appositive can be used to create emphasis. When used for this purpose, the appositive is often a near-repeat of the initial noun.
Another great way to create emphasis with an appositive is to put it at the end of the sentence after a colon. To do this, you will need to deliberately structure your sentence to set the stage for the appositive (like a punchline).
• Use an appositive to generate a near-repeat, a close copy, of your idea to give it emphasis.
• There's one great literary device for generating emphasis: an emphatic appositive.