Which statement correctly describes an appositive?

• A. A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun and is set off by commas
• B. A verb form used to show tense
• C. A phrase that explains punctuation rules
• D. A sentence fragment used for emphasis

Answer: (A)

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun and is usually set off by commas. This construction adds extra information about the noun without changing the core meaning of the sentence. For example, in “My mentor, Dr. Lee, provided guidance,” the phrase “Dr. Lee” names or renames “my mentor,” and the commas show that this information is additional rather than essential to identify the mentor.

This definition fits the statement because it captures both renaming another noun and the common punctuation—commas—that signal the appositive is providing nonessential detail. The other ideas describe different parts of speech or sentence types that aren’t about renaming a noun with a comma-delimited phrase.