Using Commas With Appositives Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step.

Understanding the Concept:

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or describes another noun right beside it. It provides extra, clarifying information and should be set off with commas if it's non-essential (i.e., the sentence still makes sense without it).

We need to add commas around the appositive phrases in each sentence.

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Solutions with Explanations:

1. That snowman, the icy fellow on skis, is quite friendly.
- *"the icy fellow on skis"* describes "snowman" — it’s extra info.
- Add commas before and after the appositive.

2. I made my daughter’s favorite dessert, brownies.
- *"brownies"* is the appositive for "dessert."
- Since "dessert" is being renamed, we use a comma before "brownies" (but not after because it's at the end of the sentence).
- Note: Some might argue this is restrictive, but since "brownies" is the specific dessert, and the sentence would still make sense without it, it's non-restrictive. So comma before.

3. My brother, an excellent student, won a scholarship.
- *"an excellent student"* describes "my brother" — additional info.
- Commas on both sides.

4. That man, the one in the black hat, is my neighbor.
- *"the one in the black hat"* identifies "that man" — extra detail.
- Set off with commas.

5. The movie I just saw, Star Wars, was excellent.
- *"Star Wars"* is the title of the movie, renaming "the movie."
- This is a non-restrictive appositive (we know which movie), so commas are needed.

6. The club members, a spirited group, were quite welcoming.
- *"a spirited group"* describes "club members" — extra clarification.
- Use commas around it.

7. The woman, a teacher at the elementary school, fell down.
- *"a teacher at the elementary school"* gives more info about "the woman."
- Non-essential; add commas.

8. Evenings, my favorite part of the day, don’t last long enough.
- *"my favorite part of the day"* explains what evenings are — appositive.
- Commas around it.

9. On weekends, our special time together, we like to cook.
- *"our special time together"* is an appositive describing "weekends."
- But note: "on weekends" is a prepositional phrase, and "our special time together" is the appositive for "weekends."
- So: On weekends, our special time together, we like to cook.
- The appositive is non-essential and needs commas.

10. That little boy, the precocious one, is my son.
- *"the precocious one"* describes "that little boy" — extra detail.
- Commas around it.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. That snowman, the icy fellow on skis, is quite friendly.
2. I made my daughter’s favorite dessert, brownies.
3. My brother, an excellent student, won a scholarship.
4. That man, the one in the black hat, is my neighbor.
5. The movie I just saw, Star Wars, was excellent.
6. The club members, a spirited group, were quite welcoming.
7. The woman, a teacher at the elementary school, fell down.
8. Evenings, my favorite part of the day, don’t last long enough.
9. On weekends, our special time together, we like to cook.
10. That little boy, the precocious one, is my son.

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🔍 Key Rule Reminder:

> Use commas around appositives when they provide non-essential (extra) information.
> If removing the phrase doesn't change the core meaning, it's non-essential and needs commas.

This worksheet helps students practice identifying and punctuating appositives correctly.