Grammar Post 5

Sometimes in grammar it can be complicated with all of the different rules. Here is how appositives work. All of my past years in high school i have never really understood this rule until about last year. Here is a list of how they are used and what they are:
An appositive is a noun or pronoun -- often with modifiers -- set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it.
An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but it may also precede it.
Punctuation of appositives
In some cases, the noun being explained is too general without the appositive; the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. When this is the case, do not place commas around the appositive; just leave it alone. If the sentence would be clear and complete without the appositive, then commas are necessary; place one before and one after the appositive.
There it is for ya sometimes it can get tricky but by going over these rules its easier to understand and make sentences flow clearer.