When I was a high school student, my English teacher tought us about appositive using a lot of time, because it was hard for students to understand well.
APPOSITIVE is used to mention a particular person/thing using extra imformation after","
Now, here is an example:non-restrictive
I have roommates, who learns Arabic.
In this sentence, "learn Arabic" is extra imformation about MY roommates. Without it, we can not know who my roommate is. The sentence can show that ALL roommate are studying Arabic.
an example:restrictive
My roommates who learn Arabic.
In this sentence, the meaning can show that there may be roommates, who don't study Arabic, because the sentence" who learn Arabic" didn't modifire "My roommate".
another example:restrictive
My father sitting on the chair is very kind.
In this sentence, the meaning is that I may have another fater besides the man, who is sitting on the chair.
Thus, it is different between Restrictive and non-Restrictive
1 comment:
Hi Rena... Yes, these are not easy, you're right. In fact, your examples are of relative clauses and not appositives... :o So, let's look. In your first sentence, "I have roommates, who learns Arabic", it doesn't sound like we already have identified your roommates, so it would make more sense to use a restrictive relative clause: "I have roommates who learn Arabic." By saying "I have" it's the first time you are talking about them, so I don't know them. It means that "speak Arabic" helps me identify or restrict them. Do you follow me so far?
Then, and appositive is not the same as a relative clause:
My roommates, both Arabic speakers, invited me to a party tonight.
Now we have an appositive between the commas.
Do you see the difference?
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