PATTERN 7

An internal series of appositives

or modifiers enclosed by a pair

of dashes or parentheses

THE FORMULA

`S __ or ( series of appositives or modifiers __

or ) V

EXAMPLES

1.He learned the necessary qualities for political life—guile,

ruthlessness, and garrulity—by carefully studying his father’s life.

2.The basic writing skills (good vocabulary, knowledge of

grammar, sense of style) can be learned by almost everyone.

3.The most-despised predators—mountain lions, timber wolves,

and grizzly bears—have been shot, trapped, and poisoned so

relentlessly for so long that they have nearly vanished from their

native lands.

REMINDERS

1.Appositives will rename, and modifiers

will describe something.

2.Dashes are used for a dramatic

interruption.

3.Parentheses set off less important

information.

PRACTICE

Directions: Add an internal series of modifiers or appositives to complete

each of the following sentences.

1.Which famous television personality—________________________ or

________________________ or ________________________ —do you think will

win this year’s Emmy Award?

2.The young gymnast— ________________________, ________________________,

and ________________________ —hoped to impress the judges.

3.Some television programs—________________________ and

________________________ and ________________________—often help us relax.

MORE PRACTICE

Directions: Provide beginnings and endings to go with the following

appositives or modifiers.

1._____________—Spanish or French or Italian—

__________________________.

2._______________________—coordination, agility, speed—

_____________________.

3.__________________—muscles, tan, good looks—

_______________________________.

PATTERN 7A: A SINGLE OR PAIR OF APPOSITIVES OR

MODIFIERS

S __ or ( appositive.modifer __

or ) V

EXAMPLES

1.The sudden burst of light—a camera flash—startled me.

2.He recognized that smell—his mother’s tamales—and it

immediately comforted him.

3.My latest desires, to go to Japan or to France, will have to

wait until I get more money.

4.Many people (especially ecologists) say that we need to do

something about global warming.

5.My grandfather’s motto—take that extra step—guided him

and now guides me.

PRACTICE

Directions: Fill in the blanks with a missing appositive or pair of appositives or other

words to complete each sentence. 

1.The familiar cheer of the basketball team—__________________________________________—

began to appear on bumper stickers around the town.

2._____________________________________________ (my dog and cat)

_______________________________________

3.My favorite colors—___________________ and ____________________—always attract me to

new clothes.

4.Learning the basic skills—____________________ and ____________________—will help me

succeed in any sport.

5.____________________ (hot chocolate and marshmallows) ________________________________.