Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly for the appositive phrase:
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Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly for the appositive phrase:
Show answer & explanation
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. When the appositive is non-restrictive (providing extra information that isn't essential to the sentence's basic meaning), it must be enclosed by commas on both sides.
Step-by-step Derivation:
Step 1: Identify the subject and the appositive. The subject is 'The coach' and the appositive phrase is 'my best friend'.
Step 2: Determine if the appositive is restrictive or non-restrictive. Since 'The coach' is already a specific identifier, 'my best friend' provides additional descriptive information and is therefore non-restrictive.
Step 3: Apply punctuation rules for non-restrictive appositives. Non-restrictive appositives must be set off by a pair of commas (one before the phrase and one after).
Step 4: Evaluate the options:
- Option A: 'The coach, my best friend, plays...' (Correct: commas on both sides).
- Option B: 'The coach my best friend, plays...' (Incorrect: missing the opening comma).
- Option C: 'The coach, my best friend plays...' (Incorrect: missing the closing comma).