Apposition / Punctuation Practice Exercises! Trivia Quiz

1. FIND THE APPOSITIVE PHRASE The phone, an iPhone with a broken screen, worked pretty well, in spite of the damage.

Worked pretty well

An iPhone with a broken screen

In spite of the damage.

The phone

The appositive phrase in this sentence is "an iPhone with a broken screen". It provides additional information about the noun "The phone" by describing its characteristics. The phrase is set off by commas, which is a common way to indicate an appositive in a sentence.

Explanation

The appositive phrase in this sentence is "an iPhone with a broken screen". It provides additional information about the noun "The phone" by describing its characteristics. The phrase is set off by commas, which is a common way to indicate an appositive in a sentence.

2. FIND THE APPOSITIVE PHRASE Morgan Prentis, a talk show host, used to be a football player.

A football player.

A talk show host

Morgan Prentis, a talk show host

Morgan Prentis

The appositive phrase in this sentence is "a talk show host." It provides additional information about Morgan Prentis, specifying his occupation.

Explanation

The appositive phrase in this sentence is "a talk show host." It provides additional information about Morgan Prentis, specifying his occupation.

3. FIND THE APPOSITIVE PHRASE The family liked Jacob, a young boy who lived near them.

A young boy who lived near them

The family liked Jacob

Lived near them.

Jacob, a young boy who lived near them.

The appositive phrase in this sentence is "a young boy who lived near them". It provides additional information about Jacob, specifying that he is a young boy and that he lives near the family. The phrase is set off by commas, indicating that it is nonessential to the sentence's meaning.

Explanation

The appositive phrase in this sentence is "a young boy who lived near them". It provides additional information about Jacob, specifying that he is a young boy and that he lives near the family. The phrase is set off by commas, indicating that it is nonessential to the sentence's meaning.

4. FIND THE APPOSITIVE Finally, Manny, a worker from Detroit, helped form the new union in Chicago.

Manny

Helped form the new union in Chicago

A worker from Detroit

Finally

The correct answer is "a worker from Detroit". In the given sentence, "a worker from Detroit" is an appositive that provides additional information about Manny. It specifies his occupation and place of origin. The appositive is set off by commas, which indicate that it is non-essential to the sentence's meaning.

Explanation

The correct answer is "a worker from Detroit". In the given sentence, "a worker from Detroit" is an appositive that provides additional information about Manny. It specifies his occupation and place of origin. The appositive is set off by commas, which indicate that it is non-essential to the sentence's meaning.

5. PUNCTUATE The old table filled the dining room a small room filled with light.

The old table, filled the dining room a small room filled with light.

The old table filled the dining room a small room, filled with light.

The old table filled the dining room, a small room filled with light.

The old table filled the dining room a small room filled with light.

The correct answer is "The old table filled the dining room, a small room filled with light." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the two independent clauses in the sentence. The comma after "dining room" indicates a pause and separates the first clause ("The old table filled the dining room") from the second clause ("a small room filled with light").

Explanation

The correct answer is "The old table filled the dining room, a small room filled with light." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the two independent clauses in the sentence. The comma after "dining room" indicates a pause and separates the first clause ("The old table filled the dining room") from the second clause ("a small room filled with light").

6. PUNCTUATE In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired the washing machine an old one from the 1930s.

In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired the, washing machine an old one, from the 1930's

In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired the washing machine an old one, from the 1930's.

In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired, the washing machine, an old one from the 1930's

In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired the washing machine, an old one from the 1930's.

The correct answer is "In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired the washing machine, an old one from the 1930's." This answer is correct because it properly punctuates the sentence by using commas to separate the phrases "the washing machine" and "an old one from the 1930's". It also correctly uses a comma before the conjunction "and" to separate the two independent clauses.

Explanation

The correct answer is "In a few hours, Jimmy had repaired the washing machine, an old one from the 1930's." This answer is correct because it properly punctuates the sentence by using commas to separate the phrases "the washing machine" and "an old one from the 1930's". It also correctly uses a comma before the conjunction "and" to separate the two independent clauses.

7. What role does the dash play in the following sentence? Example: It was in the echo of that terrified woman's footfalls that I first began to know the power I had - the ability to strike fear into others through my menacing visage.

It separates the appositive from the rest of the sentence

It puts special emphasis on the appositive

Both A and C

The dash in the given sentence separates the appositive "the ability to strike fear into others through my menacing visage" from the rest of the sentence. This punctuation mark also puts special emphasis on the appositive, highlighting its importance in the sentence. Therefore, both options A and C are correct.

Explanation

The dash in the given sentence separates the appositive "the ability to strike fear into others through my menacing visage" from the rest of the sentence. This punctuation mark also puts special emphasis on the appositive, highlighting its importance in the sentence. Therefore, both options A and C are correct.

8. PUNCTUATE After the rain, the car a new mustang smelled bad since the windows were left open.

After the rain, the car a new Mustang smelled bad since the windows were left open.

After the rain, the car, a new Mustang smelled bad since the windows were left open.

After the rain, the car a new Mustang, smelled bad since the windows were left open.

After the rain, the car, a new Mustang, smelled bad since the windows were left open.

The correct answer is "After the rain, the car, a new Mustang, smelled bad since the windows were left open." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the different elements in the sentence. The commas are used to set off the phrase "a new Mustang" as additional information about the car. Without the commas, the sentence would be grammatically incorrect and unclear.

Explanation

The correct answer is "After the rain, the car, a new Mustang, smelled bad since the windows were left open." This answer correctly uses punctuation to separate the different elements in the sentence. The commas are used to set off the phrase "a new Mustang" as additional information about the car. Without the commas, the sentence would be grammatically incorrect and unclear.

9. When appositives have commas inside them, what punctuation is used instead to enclose the appositive? Example: To her, the young man__a broad, six feet tall giant__seemed menacingly close.

A pair of dashes

Semi-colons

Colons

Parentheses

Brackets

When appositives have commas inside them, a pair of dashes is used instead to enclose the appositive. In the given example, the appositive "a broad, six feet tall giant" is enclosed by a pair of dashes to provide additional information about the young man. The dashes serve to set off the appositive from the rest of the sentence, making it stand out and providing emphasis.

Explanation

When appositives have commas inside them, a pair of dashes is used instead to enclose the appositive. In the given example, the appositive "a broad, six feet tall giant" is enclosed by a pair of dashes to provide additional information about the young man. The dashes serve to set off the appositive from the rest of the sentence, making it stand out and providing emphasis.

10. PUNCTUATE The new school Fairchild Academy for the Arts will be located on Main Street.

The new school Fairchild, Academy for the Arts, will be located on Main Street

The new school, Fairchild Academy, for the Arts will be located on Main Street

The new school, Fairchild Academy for the Arts will be located on Main Street

The new school, Fairchild Academy for the Arts, will be located on Main Street

The correct answer is "The new school, Fairchild Academy for the Arts, will be located on Main Street." This answer correctly uses commas to set off the appositive phrase "Fairchild Academy for the Arts" from the rest of the sentence. The commas indicate that "Fairchild Academy for the Arts" is providing additional information about the new school.

Explanation

The correct answer is "The new school, Fairchild Academy for the Arts, will be located on Main Street." This answer correctly uses commas to set off the appositive phrase "Fairchild Academy for the Arts" from the rest of the sentence. The commas indicate that "Fairchild Academy for the Arts" is providing additional information about the new school.