Grammar exercises – Week 2 - The appositive phrase

This is ‘further particulars’ about something which is highlighted in the text by

using a comma before and after the phrase.

To illustrate – consider this sentence . . .

The above patient is being referred for possible admission and ongoing care.

If you were going to ‘add an appositive’ – you would do something like this:

The above patient, a 45 year old, recently widowed male, suffering from
suspected diverticulitis, is being referred for possible admission and ongoing
care.

[The text in red is the appositive.]

Many case studies give information about the patient: age, gender, social
status, current problem – perhaps details pertaining to their financial situation.
For example:
Patient : Julie White - 35 y.o. with flu like symptoms.
Single. Real Estate Agent – high achiever.

You could write: I am referring the above patient, Ms Julie White. Mr White
is a 35 year old and is suffering from flu-like symptoms. She is a real estate
agent and enjoys a high income. [Short separate sentences – not ideal]

Better to write: I am referring the above patient, a 35 year old, high

achieving Real Estate Agent, who is suffering from flu-like symptoms, for your
assessment and opinion.

THE WORDS IN RED ARE THE CORE SENTENCE

THE WORDS IN BLUE ARE THE APPOSITIVE - EXTRA INFORMATION

Being able to write ‘tight’ sentences is a sign of higher standard English and is
what the OET regards as ‘cohesiveness’ - tightly connected writing.
EXERCISES FOR YOU TO TRY:

Write an opening paragraph for a Letter of Referral based on the following points

1. Patient: John Brown, 35 years old, cardiac arrest, needs urgent hospitalization and
care.
2. Patient: Jenny Watson, 45 year old, married, 2 teenage children, has fibroids which
need removing – possibly hysterectomy.
3. Patient: Matthew Jones, 7 year old, severe asthma, needs urgent hospitalization.
4. Patient: Miss Daisy Bell, 82 year old, advanced dementia, needs admission to Aged
Care facility.
5. Patient: Brad Dixon, 58 year old property developer, suffering from hypertension and
suspected diverticulosis, needs Barium Meal xray and observation in hospital. Patient to
take letter with him when he presents at the Hospital.

Remember - ONLY INCLUDE RELEVANT INFORMATION

SUGGESTED ANSWERS The ‘appositive’ is shown in blue

1. I am referring John Brown, a 35 year old who has suffered a cardiac arrest, for urgent
hospitalization and care.

2. I am referring the above patient, a 45 year old married woman, who has fibroids requiring
removal and possibly hysterectomy, for urgent attention.

3. I am referring Matthew Jones, a 7 year old boy with severe asthma, for urgent
hospitalization and ongoing care.

4. I am referring the above patient, an 82 year old with advanced dementia, who is being
discharged for admission to your Aged Care facility.

5. This letter will introduce Mr Brad Dixon, a 58 year old suffering from hypertension and
suspected diverticulosis, who requires a Barium Meal xray and two days’ observation in
hospital.

NOTE: In each case - if you left out the appositive - you would still have a complete
sentence, albeit a short one!