Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or being in apposition: In grammar, "appositional" describes a word, phrase, or clause that is placed next to another to rename, explain, or identify it, typically with the same grammatical function.
   • Functioning as an appositive: It can describe the grammatical role of a noun or noun phrase that provides additional information about another noun or noun phrase immediately preceding it.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The phrase "my friend the doctor" contains an appositional noun phrase. (Here, "the doctor" is in apposition to "my friend".)
  • In the sentence "Paris, the capital of France, is beautiful," the appositional element "the capital of France" gives more information about "Paris".
  • An appositional construction often uses commas to set off the explanatory element.

Advanced Usage

• Appositional Phrase: A phrase that functions in apposition.

  • The title of the book, an instant classic, was widely praised. (The phrase "an instant classic" is an appositional phrase describing "the title".)

• Non-restrictive Apposition: The appositional element adds extra, non-essential information and is usually set off by commas.

  • My brother, a talented musician, lives in New York.

• Restrictive Apposition: The appositional element is essential to identify the noun and is not set off by commas.

  • The novelist Jane Austen wrote many famous works. (Here, "Jane Austen" is a restrictive appositional element identifying which novelist.)

Variants and Related Words

• Apposition (n): The grammatical construction in which two elements are placed side by side, with one element serving to identify or explain the other.

  • The use of apposition is common in defining terms.

• Appositive (n/adj): A word or phrase that is in apposition. As an adjective, it is often synonymous with "appositional".

  • "The scientist" is an appositive in the sentence "Marie Curie, the scientist, discovered radium."

Synonyms

• Explanatory: Serving to explain.
• Identifying: Serving to establish the identity of something.

Related Grammatical Terms

• Modifier: A word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adjective or adverb to describe or limit another word or group of words. An appositional element is a specific type of modifier.
• Parenthetical: A word, phrase, or clause inserted as an explanation or afterthought, often set off by punctuation. Appositional elements can be parenthetical.

Adjective

1. relating to or being in apposition
   • an appositive noun