be to do something 

1.used for telling someone what to do (imperative+

You are to stay here until I send for you.
instruction)
2.used for saying what has been arranged
(any
The ceremony is to take place in the palacegrounds. arrangement)
3.used for saying or asking what should be done

What are we to do? Should

You are to be congratulated on your wise decision

4.used in an ‘if’ clause for suggesting a possibleaim when you are saying what

must happen in order to achieve it
Want to=be to
If we are to compete successfully in world markets, we must invest more money 
in education and training.

If we are to catch that train, we shall have to leave now.

If I were to increase my offer from five hundred to five hundred and fifty pounds,
would you be interested in selling me your car then?

If we are to solve the world's pollution problems, we must address environmental

issues now.

5.used about someone or something in the past to say what would happen at a 

later time

the boy who was to become king

Mr Jones was to speak at the meeting. (it was arranged and he did)

But was/were + to + perfect infinitive means that the arranged event did not actually
happen:

Mr Jones was to have spoken at the meeting, but he had to cancel because of his
illness.

6. used to ask how something can be done can=be to,only in

 How are we to get out of the present mess? question
what am I do?

7.can be used as a generalization.

We are to go to school.
I am to attend at Church.
perpetrators are to be punished.

8)shall/will=be to,formal
A man is to appear in court later this
morning charged with the murder of the
footballer, Darren Gough.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has ***

announced that it is to move three
thousand jobs out of the capital and
re-locate them in the North East.
Work is to begin this week on the new
bridge.
Should
1)We are not to decide.
This is not for us to decide.
2)I am not to rest and while away time.
This is not for me to rest and...
3)You are not to play in exam time.
This is not for you to play ...
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is no longer updated.
Find out more about page archiving.

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Learning English

be to + infinitive

Julio Molina from Peru asks:

I like the learning English section

of the BBC web pages so much.
Please, can you explain the use of
the verb to be + to in these
examples:

You are not to smoke

They are to be married

soon

more
Roger replies:
questions

We use be to + infinitive when

discussing formal or official
arrangements or to give formal
instructions or orders and your
examples illustrate these aspects very
 well. Further examples might be:

The Prime Minister is to make a

further visit to Devon next
week.

We are to receive a pay rise in

line with inflation in September.

I don't mind her going to Ruth's

party but she's not to be back
late.

You are not to leave this house

without my permission. Is that
clear?

The be to + infinitive structure is also

frequently used in newspaper, radio and
television reports to refer to future
events. It expresses near certainty that
what is forecast will happen. Study the
following:

A man is to appear in court later

Home this morning charged with the
General & murder of the footballer, Darren
Business Gough.
English
The Ministry of Trade and
Grammar,
Industry has announced that it is
Vocabulary &
to move three thousand jobs out
Pronunciation
of the capital and re-locate them
Quizzes in the North East.
The Flatmates
Work is to begin this week on the
Community new bridge across the Nile north
of Aswan.
For teachers
Specials
About us
We often use be to + infinitive in the
Downloads if-clause in conditional sentences when
talking about preconditions for something
to happen. Study the following:

If we are to catch that train, we

shall have to leave now.

If I were to increase my offer

from five hundred to five
hundred and fifty pounds, would
you be interested in selling me
your car then?

If we are to solve the world's

pollution problems, we must
address environmental issues
now.

Be to + passive infinitive is often used

when giving instructions. It is noticeable
always on medicine bottles and can be
seen on other official notices too:

To be taken three times a day

after meals.

These benches are not to be

removed from the changing
rooms.
 No food of any kind is to be taken
into the examination room.

Note that although this structure is used

to talk about current and future
arrangements and events, it is
configurated in present and past tenses -
see the above examples. However, be to
+ perfect infinitive is sometimes used
to show that a planned event did not
materialise:

He was to have appeared in the

West End show but broke his
collar bone during rehearsals.

They were to have picked

strawberries this morning, but
the torrential overnight rain
made the field too muddy.

Sammy was to have married

Sarah but then Jamie came along
and the engagement ring he had
given her was returned.

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Be (just) about to allows us to express an imminent action, or a very near future:

The train is just about to leave. The train will leave very soon.

I was about to be promoted when the new boss took over. I was going to be
promoted when the new boss arrived at the company.

I was about to get undressed when there was aknock on the door.

We arrived just as the ceremony was about to begin.

Hurry up!we are about to leave.

(Be) supposed to:

1.to be expected to behave in a particular way, especially according to a rule, an 

agreement, or someone in authority

You’re supposed to make a copy of the contractbefore you mail it.

Am I supposed to be at the meeting on Tuesday?

This isn’t what we’re supposed to be discussing.

2.to be generally expected or considered to have a particular quality or skill

Latin America is supposed to be a pretty inexpensive place to travel in.

This restaurant is supposed to make excellent salads.

 3.to be expected or intended to happen in a particular way or to have a particular 

result

The new regulations are supposed to help single parents.

Today was supposed to have been sunny, but it’s raining.

get to auxiliary verb (HAVE CHANCE)

present participle getting, past tense and past participle got US/ɡɑt/ , past

participle gotten US/ˈɡɑt·ən/ got to have an opportunity to do something:

I never get to see her now that she’s moved to California.

I’d like to get to know you better – could we have dinner sometime?

We got to meet all the stars after the show. 

She gets to travel all over the place with her job.

get to auxiliary verb (BEGIN)

to begin to do or be:

You’re getting to be just like your mother.

He got to thinking that it was all his fault.

double perfect infinitive

A pedant would argue that these are possible and correct:

1. I wish (now) that I had seen her at the party (in the past).
I would like to have seen her.

2. I wished (when I was at the party, in the past) to see her at the party.
I would have liked to see her.

3. I wished (when I was at the party, in the past) that I had seen her before the party
(at an earlier past time).
I would have liked to have seen her.

Many people use the situation#3 construction in situation #1 and/or situation #2. The
pedant would consider this to be incorrect.
Would Rather

When the person himself expresses a preference on something referring to the

present or future:

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + base form of verb

I would rather (I'd rather) stay at home than go out right now.

When referring to the past:

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + have + past participle form of verb
I would rather (I'd rather) have stayed at home than (have) gone out last nigh.

When the person expresses a preference on someone else's actions referring to

the present or future:

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + object + past tense

I would rather (I'd rather) you gave upsmoking.

When referring to the past:

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + object + past perfect

I would rather (I'd rather) you hadn't lied to me about your school marks
yesterday. 
Would Prefer

When the person himself expresses a preference on something referring to the

present or future:

Subject + would prefer + to infinitive + verb

I would prefer ('d prefer) to watch TV rather than (to) do shopping.

When referring to the past:

Subject + would prefer ('d prefer) to + have + past participle form of a verb
I would prefer (I'd prefer) to have been born somewhere else.
or,I would have preferred to be born somewhere else.(3rd conditional pattern)

When the person expresses a preference on someone else's actions referring to

the present or future:

Subject + would prefer ('d prefer) + object + to infinitive + verb

I would prefer ('d prefer) my son to live with me rather than (to) live abroad.
or,I would prefer it if my son lived with me.(2nd conditional)

When referring to the past:

Subject + would prefer ('d prefer) + object + to + have + past participle form of a
verb
I would prefer your daughter to have accepted my apology rather than (to have)
ignored me last night.
or,I would have preferred your daughter to accept my apology.(3rd conditional
pattern)
or,I would prefer it if your daughter had accepted my apology.(context wise,mixed
conditional)
or,I would have preferred it if your daughter had accepted my apology.(3rd
conditional)
I would prefer ('d prefer) my son to live with me rather than (to) live abroad.
or,I would prefer it if my son lived with me.
or,I wish my son lived with me.
or,I would rather my son lived with me

I would prefer your daughter to have accepted my apology rather than (to have)
ignored me last night.
or,I would have preferred your daughter to accept my apology.(3rd conditional
pattern)
or,I would prefer it if your daughter had accepted my apology.(context wise,mixed
conditional)
or,I would have preferred it if your daughter had accepted my apology.(3rd
conditional)
or,I wish your daughter had accepted my apology.
or,I would rather your daughter had accepted my apology.
 We don’t use unless for impossible conditions:

If the government had not raised food prices, there would not have been so
many protests.

Not: Unless the government had raised food prices …

We don’t use unless and if together:

We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless it rains.

Not: We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless if it rains.

As long as, so long as, providing, etc.

Sometimes we need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In

these cases, conditional clauses can begin with phrases such as as long as, so long
as, only if, on condition that, providing (that), provided (that).

As long as is more common in speaking; so long asand on condition that are more
formal and more common in writing:

[to a group of children]

You can play in the living room as long as you don’t make a mess.

So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.

The bank lent the company 100,000 pounds on condition that they repaid the money
within six months.

Providing (that) is more common in speaking; provided (that) is more formal and

more common in written language:

[talking about rail travel in the UK]

You can get a senior citizen’s reduction providingyou’ve got a railcard.

They may do whatever they like provided that it is within the law.

As long as

We use as long as to refer to the intended duration of a plan or idea, most
commonly referring to the future. We always use the present simple to refer to the
future after as long as:

We are very happy for you to stay at our house as long as you like.

I’ll remember that film as long as I live.

Not: … as long as I will live.

As long as and so long as

As long as or so long as also means ‘provided that’, ‘providing that’ or ‘on condition
that’:

You are allowed to go as long as you let us know when you arrive.

So long as is a little more informal:

You can borrow the car so long as you don’t drive too fast.
If possible, if necessary

We can sometimes leave words out after ifto form fixed expressions:

Check the temperature of your meat with a meat thermometer if possible. (if it’s
possible or if that’s possible)

Interest rates would have to rise if necessary to protect the pound, Mr John Smith,
Shadow Chancellor, indicated yesterday on BBC TV’s Money Programme.

If so, if not

We use so or not after if when it is obvious what we are referring to:

Are you looking for part-time work? Do you want to work from home? If so, read on. 
(if you are looking for part-time work or if you want to work from home)

You should all have received your booklist for the course by now. If not, please
email the office. (if you haven’t received your booklist for the course by now)

I’ll see you soon, definitely at the wedding, if not before. (if I don’t see you before
the wedding)

Even if

We can use even if to mean if when talking about surprising or extreme situations:

You’re still going to be cold even if you put on two or three jumpers.

We use only if to express a strong condition, often an order or command, to mean
‘on the condition that’. It has an opposite meaning to ‘only if’:

Payment will be made only if the work is completed on time.

Alright I’ll come but only if I can bring a friend with me.

We often separate only and if, using only in the main clause:

He’ll only take the job if they offer him more money.

We’ll only achieve our targets if everyone works together.

If only

from English Grammar Today

We use if only to express a strong wish that things could be different. It means the
same as I wish but is stronger. We use it to talk about past, present and future
unreal conditions.

We use if only + past verb forms to talk about a wish for the present:

If only he knew the truth. (he doesn’t know the truth, but he wishes he did)

Not: If only he knows the truth.

If only there was something she could do or say to help.

Not: If only there is something she could do or say to help.

We sometimes use were instead of was in more formal situations:

If only she weren’t so tired. (If only she wasn’t so tired.)

To talk about a wish for the future or to show a contrast between how things are
and how we would like them to be, we use if only + would + infinitive without to:

If only someone would buy the house.

If only they would talk to each other.

We use if only + past perfect to talk about a wish to change something that has
already happened:

If only he had listened to what his friends had been telling him. (He didn’t listen.)

If only Anna had been able to come.(Anna wasn’t able to come.)

Suppose, supposingand what if

Suggestions

We use suppose, supposing and what if + present verb form to make suggestions

about what might happen:

A:

What time shall we meet?

B:

Suppose we meet in the offices downstairs at four o’clock?

A:

That’s perfect. I’ll let the others know.

Supposing I don’t bring my car and you and I travel together. That would save us half
the cost of petrol and parking.

A:

The electricity has gone. There must be a power cut.

B:

What if we find the candles and put them around the room?

A:

Okay. Good idea. Do you know where they are?

Possibility

When we are less certain, we use suppose, supposing and what if + past form to talk
about future possibility:
Possibility

When we are less certain, we use suppose, supposing and what if + past form to talk
about future possibility:

Suppose we asked Mary to baby-sit? Do you think she’d do it? (not as certain as 
Suppose we ask Mary to baby-sit?)

Supposing someone else wrote the essay. How would we know? (not as certain as 
Supposing someone else writes the essay …)

A:

What if I gave up working full-time. I’d love that.

B:

You’re joking surely!!

When we refer to something that did not happen (something hypothetical), we use
the past perfect:

Suppose we hadn’t brought our umbrellas.(We did bring our umbrellas.)

Supposing they had closed the road. Would that have been a good idea? (They didn’t
close the road.)

What if I had accidentally told Maria about the party! That would have ruined the
surprise. (I didn’t tell Maria about the party.)

Warning:

We use be supposed to to talk about obligations and arrangements, not suggestions.

You are supposed to put money in the parking meter!

Supposing

Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, second 

or third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the listener to imagine a
situation:

Supposing I don’t arrive till after midnight, will the guest-house still be open? 
(Imagine if I don’t arrive till after midnight …)

Supposing you lost your passport, you’d have to go to the embassy, wouldn’t you?

Supposing he hadn’t recognised us – he might never have spoken to us.

DOUBLE PASSIVE. The use of two PASSIVES together: He was said to have been
sacked; Their engagement is expected to be announced; Ten seamen are believed to
have been killed. The term is more commonly applied, however, to constructions
considered clumsy: A protest meeting is hoped to be held soon (= It is hoped to hold
a protest meeting soon).
An emergency meeting is expected to be held soon.(it is expected to hold an
emergency meeting soon).The new highway is proposed to be built across the
swamp.(it is proposed to build a new highway across the new highway)
Had better: form and meaning

We use had better to refer to the present or the future, to talk about actions we
think people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation. The verb form
is always had, not have. We normally shorten it to ’d better in informal situations. It
is followed by the infinitive without to:

It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.

Not: I’d better to go now.

The democratic movement had better concentrate on the immediate issues of the

economy and security. (more formal)

Had better is a strong expression. We use it if we think there will be negative

results if someone does not do what is desired or suggested:

She’d better get here soon or she’ll miss the opening ceremony.

Spoken English:

Sometimes people say had best instead of had better, especially in informal

speaking. This sounds slightly less strong and less direct:

You’d best leave it till Monday. There’s no one in the office today.

Had better: negative and question forms

The negative of had better is had better not (or ’d better not):

I’d better not leave my bag there. Someone might steal it.

You’d better not tell Elizabeth about the broken glass – she’ll go crazy!

The question form of had better is made by inverting the subject and had. This
means the same as should, but is more formal:

Had I better speak to Joan first before I send this form off? What do you think?

Had we better leave a note for the delivery guy to take the parcel next door?

Negative questions with had better are more common than affirmative ones:

Hadn’t we better ring the school and tell them Liam is sick?

Hadn’t you better switch your computer off? It might overheat if you leave it on.

Had better or be better, be best?

We use had better to give advice in a specific situation. We use the phrase be better 
or be best + to-infinitive for more general suggestions:

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. (‘It’s better to be safe than sorry’ is a saying

which means that you should be careful before taking any action.)

I think it would be best to speak to the people in the video shop to see what they
recommend.
Had better or would rather, would prefer?

We don’t use had better when we talk about preferences. We use would rather or 

would prefer.

Compare

I’d better get a taxi. The buses are so slow.

It is a good idea, better, or advisable to get a taxi.

I’d rather get a taxi. I don’t like buses.

I prefer to get a taxi.

Had better: typical errors
We use had better to give specific advice, not to talk about obligations or
requirements; instead, we use have to, have got to or must:

You have to (or must) hold a full, valid driving licence to hire a car.

Not: You’d better hold a full, valid driving licence to hire a car.

We don’t use had better to talk about preferences; instead, we use would rather or 
would prefer:

They offered her a job in Warsaw, but she said she’d rather work in a smaller city. 
(or … she’d prefer to work …)

Not: … she’d better work …

We don’t use had better to make ordinary suggestions or recommendations:

Auckland is a great place to visit. I’d recommendyou take a boat trip across the
bay and see some of the islands. Then you can find a nice restaurant for lunch.
There are plenty of them.

Not: You’d better take a boat trip across the bay and see some of the islands.
Then you’d better find a nice restaurant for lunch.
Dare-dared-dared(modal,main verb +to)

from English Grammar Today

Dare is both a main verb and a semi-modal verb.

Dare can mean ‘challenge somebody’. With this meaning, it is a main verb and
requires an object. Any verb that follows it is in the to-infinitive:

Go on, I dare you.

Some snakes can bite but I dare you to hold this big snake.

Dare also means ‘to be brave enough or rude enough to do something’. With this
meaning, it can be used as an ordinary main verb which can be followed by a 
to-infinitive or an infinitive without to. Less commonly, it can be used as a
semi-modal verb followed by an infinitive without to.

Affirmative statement

If Sally dares (to) go there again, she’ll be in big trouble! (ordinary verb)

Negative statement

He doesn’t dare (to) go there. (ordinary verb)

No one dares (to) go there. (ordinary verb)

No one dare go there. (semi-modal verb)

 Affirmative question
Does anyone dare (to) go there? (ordinary verb)
Dare anyone go there? (semi-modal verb)
Negative question
Doesn’t he dare (to) go there? (ordinary verb)
Daren’t he go there? (semi-modal verb)
Typical error
We don’t use infinitive with to after semi-modal dare in the expression How
dare you:
How dare you suggest she was lazy!
Not: How dare you to suggest…

past: He dared to meet a tiger. He dared to be honest.

He didn't dare (to)go there(main). Did he not dare (to)go there?(main).Didn't he
dare (to) go there? - dare(main verb) in the past
I should have dared to go there.
Words I would never have dared to say to my father before, whenever he
annoyed or aggravated me.

Dare(modal) in the past:

He dared be honest and have patience.
He dared not go there.
Dared he go there?

wil dare( dare-main verb in the future):

He will dare to elope with his girlfriend,if he gets a chance.
 Need -needed-needed(main verb)

from English Grammar Today

Need is a semi-modal verb because in some ways it is like a modal verb and
in other ways like a main verb.

We use need mostly in the negative form to indicate that there is no obligation
or necessity to do something:

You needn’t take off your shoes.

modal verb need has no past tense, but it can be used in the pattern need not
have/needn’t have followed by a past participle, to show that although someone
did something, it was not necessary:You needn’t have waited for me.

The ordinary transitive verb has a future tense will need:You will need to show
your passport.
Need: form

Affirmative form

Affirmatives with the semi-modal need are not common and they are used in
formal contexts. There is almost always a negative word (e.g. no one, nobody,
nothing) or phrase in the clause, even if the verb phrase is affirmative:

No one need think that we are doing this every week. (we are not doing this
every week)

Nobody need know the name of the person who made the complaint.

Not a thing need change on this page.

Need comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another
verb):

Let’s forget about it. No one need know about it.

We can’t use another modal verb with need:

No one need read this.

Not: No one need must read this. or No one must need read this.

Negative form

 Warning:
We form the negative by adding not after need. Need not can be
contracted to needn’t. We don’t use don’t/doesn’t/didn’t with the semi-
modal verb need:

You need not spend a lot of money on presents. (formal) (or You
needn’t spend a lot of money on presents.)

Not: You don’t need spend a lot of money on presents.

See also:
Modal verbs
Semi-modal need and main verb need

Question form

The question form of the semi-modal need is not very common. It is rather
formal. The subject and need change position to form questions. We don’t use
do/does/did.

Need we write this down?

Not: Do we need write this down?

Need: use

No obligation (needn’t)

The semi-modal need is most common in the negative. We use it to show that
there is no obligation:

We needn’t spend much time on this topic. It’s not going to be in the exam.

Cans of soup needn’t be kept in the fridge.

No obligation in the past

The semi-modal need has no past simple form. Instead, we use didn’t need to
or didn’t have to when we express no obligation in the past:

I didn’t need to buy any books. They were all in the library. (main verb
need + to)

(or I didn’t have to buy any books. They were all in the library.)

Not: I didn’t need buy any books. They were all in the library.

See also:
Semi-modal need and main verb need

Unnecessary events

We use needn’t have + -ed form to refer to events which happened but which
the speaker considers were unnecessary:

You needn’t have waited for me. (You waited for me but it wasn’t
necessary.) (modal)

You needn’t have bought so much food. There are only three of us staying
for the weekend. (You bought a lot of food but it wasn’t necessary.)
Semi-modal need and main verb need

We can use main verb need as an alternative to semi-modal need. Main verb
need is followed by to and it changes with person, number and tense (I, you,
we, they need to; she, he, it needs to; I, you, she, he, it, we, they needed to).

 Compare

Semi-modal
Main verb need Comment
need

Need it be In these examples, the

Does it need
so dark in meaning is the same for semi-
to be so dark
here? modal need and main verb
in here?
(formal) need + to.

You You don’t

needn’t need to
mention mention this
this to your to your
father. father.

 Warning:
We must use the main verb need when it is followed by a noun phrase
or -ing clause:

[noun phrase]

You don’t need an umbrella. (main verb)

Not: You needn’t an umbrella.

[-ing clause]

My hair doesn’t need cutting for at least another month.

 Not: My hair needn’t cutting for at least another month.

Typical error

The main verb need is followed by to when used with another verb.
main
I need to have my hair cut.
(modal,this is grammatically correct like:I
Not: I need have my hair cut.
must have my hair cut,but not used)

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b) When the participle is of the verb be
c) When the participle does not have a subject
d) Always
e) Never

Appositives
Definition
An appositive is a noun that serves to describe or rename another noun (or
pronoun) that appears directly before it in a sentence.
When an appositive is made up of a noun phrase, it is known as an
appositive phrase.

Proper nouns as appositives

Appositives that are made up of one noun or more without any determiners
or modifiers are almost always proper nouns, which serve to name
common nouns that appears before them. For example:
• “Our cat, Scruffles, hates being left home alone.” (The proper noun
Scruffles provides a name for the common noun cat.)
• “Your friend Jack is here to see you.” (The proper noun Jack provides a
name for the common noun friend.)
• “America’s first president, George Washington, was born in the colony of
Virginia.”

Appellations
Appellations are additional words added to a person’s name, which
generally become capitalized as part of the proper noun. Appellations are not
considered appositives in their own right, but they can be used as
appositives in conjunction with the proper noun. For example:
• “The heir, Prince William, is adored by many.” (The proper noun William
with the appellation Prince provides a name for the common noun heir.)
• “Italy was invaded by the conqueror Attila the Hun in 452.” (The proper
noun Attila with the appellation the Hun provides a name for the common
noun conqueror.)

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Appositive phrases
It is also very common to use noun phrases (which consist of a noun
accompanied by any determiners and modifiers) as appositives to provide
more descriptive identifying information about a noun; these appositive
phrases can modify both common and proper nouns. They usually begin with
the articles the, a, and an. For example:
• “The office, an old Georgian building, badly needed repairs.” (In the
appositive phrase, the head noun building is modified by the article an and
the adjectives old and Georgian.)
• “Janet Smith, a former student of mine, is joining the faculty next
spring.” (In the appositive phrase, the head noun student is modified by the
article a, the adjective former, and the prepositional phrase of mine.)
• “Just meet me at my car, the old station wagon parked across the
street.” (In the appositive phrase, the head compound noun station
wagon is modified by the article the, the adjective old, and the participle
phrase parked across the street.)
While it is most common to use the articles the, a, and an, we can also use
indefinite pronouns (such as one or some) to begin an appositive phrase, as
in:
• “My father, one of the toughest lawyers in the state, always wanted
me to follow in his footsteps.”
• “The scientists, some of the most respected in their fields,
collaborated on a paper on the dangers of climate change.”

Introductory appositive phrases

Appositives most commonly appear directly after the noun they identify, as
we have seen in all of the examples so far.
However, we can also place an appositive before a noun when it serves to
introduce a sentence. In this case, it does not need to be immediately
adjacent to the noun. This adds emphasis to the information the appositive
provides. Note that we can only use appositive phrases (as opposed to proper
nouns functioning as appositives) at the beginning of sentences. For
example:
• “The only one from her class to graduate with honors, Ms.

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Thomson now runs one of the largest businesses in the world.”
• “A true classic, this book inspired a generation of young readers.”
• “A staunch conservative, the New York senator has promised to
reinvigorate industry in her state.”

Restrictive vs. non-restrictive

appositives
Restrictive appositives
Appositives that are necessary for the sentence’s meaning are known as
restrictive appositives. These are often proper nouns, and they are
integrated into the sentence without commas. For example:
• “The popular restaurant Joe’s Place gets thousands of diners a day.”
Without the information the appositive provides, the sentence would be
confusing and the reader would not know which restaurant the sentence is
referring to. Other times, the sentence would still make logical sense, but the
implied meaning changes slightly. Consider, for example, these two
sentences:
• “My brother lives in New York.”
• “My brother Michael lives in New York.”
Both sentences make sense. However, in the first example, it is implied that
the speaker only has one brother, and he lives in New York. In the second
example, it sounds like the speaker has specified his brother’s name because
he has more than one brother.
We can also use appositive phrases restrictively when we are making a
comparison between two descriptions of the same person. For example:
• “Jeremy Jones the professor has gained much more praise than Jeremy
Jones the novelist ever did.”

Non-restrictive appositives
Appositives that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence are known
as non-restrictive appositives. We set non-restrictive appositives apart
from the rest of the sentence with commas. For example:

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• “Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, was a pilot in
the Korean War.”
• “My hometown, Denver, has a fantastic zoo.”
• “A brilliant and eager student, he graduated from college at the age of
19.”
In each of the above sentences, there would be no potential
misunderstanding or loss in meaning if the appositives were left out.

Quiz
(answers start on page 610)

1. What types of nouns are used as appositives without any modifiers?

a) Common nouns
b) Proper nouns
c) Compound nouns
d) Abstract nouns

2. Which of the following are used to make appositive phrases?

a) Noun phrases
b) Noun clauses
c) Adjective phrases
d) Relative clauses

3. Identify the appositive in the following sentence:

“Because of the recession, my son, a software engineer, had to move home
when he lost his job.”
a) Because of the recession
b) my son
c) a software engineer
d) had to move home

4. Identify the appositive in the following sentence:

“Ask your sister Mary if she’d like to come to a movie on Saturday.”
a) sister
b) Mary
c) she
d) a movie

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Printer Fabulous!
THE APPOSITIVE

Recognize an appositive
when you see one.
An appositive is a noun or noun
phrase that renames another noun
right beside it. The appositive can be a
short or long combination of words.
Look at these appositive examples, all
of which rename insect:

The insect, a cockroach, is

crawling across the kitchen
table.

The insect, a large cockroach,

is crawling across the kitchen
table.
 The insect, a large cockroach
with hairy legs, is crawling
across the kitchen table.

The insect, a large, hairy-

legged cockroach that has
spied my bowl of oatmeal, is
crawling across the kitchen
table.

Here are more examples:

During the dinner conversation,

Clifford, the messiest eater at
the table, spewed mashed
potatoes like an erupting
volcano.

My 486 computer, a modern-

day dinosaur, chews floppy
disks as noisily as my brother
does peanut brittle.
Genette's bedroom desk, the
biggest disaster area in the
house, is a collection of
overdue library books, dirty
plates, computer components,
old mail, cat hair, and empty
potato chip bags.

Reliable, Diane's eleven-year-

old beagle, chews holes in the
living room carpeting as if he
were still a puppy.
Punctuate the appositive
correctly.
The important point to remember is
that a nonessential appositive is always
separated from the rest of the sentence
with comma(s).

When the appositive begins the

sentence, it looks like this:

A hot-tempered tennis player,

Robbie charged the umpire and
tried to crack the poor man's
skull with a racket.

When the appositive interrupts the

sentence, it looks like this:

Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis

 player, charged the umpire and
tried to crack the poor man's
skull with a racket.

And when the appositive ends the

sentence, it looks like this:

Upset by the bad call, the crowd

cheered Robbie, a hot-
tempered tennis player who
charged the umpire and tried
to crack the poor man's skull
with a racket.

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