Subject Complements vs Appositives

Subject Complement

A word or phrase that renames or provides more information about the subject of a sentence.

Appositive

A noun or noun phrase that follows another noun and provides additional information about it.

Appositive Phrase

A group of words consisting of an appositive and any words that modify it.

Essential Information

Information that is necessary for the meaning and understanding of the sentence.

Nonessential Information

Extra detail that is not necessary for the meaning and understanding of the sentence.

Restrictive Appositive

An appositive that is essential to the meaning of the noun it modifies and restricts its meaning.

Nonrestrictive Appositive

An appositive that provides additional information about the noun it modifies, but is not essential to its meaning.