The close apposition

A close apposition is not separated by commas and stands inclose connection with the word modified. These word-groups generally consist either of the name of a person and a noun denoting atitle, rank, profession, or the name of a person and a noun denoting relationship, or a geographical name and some common noun, e. g. Professor Brown, Captain Marryat, Aunt Polly, President Roosevelt, etc.

Even Aunt Ann was there. (Galsworthy)

Professor Sommerville practised what he preached. (Carter)

In these word-groups the noun modified is the name of a person or a geographical name, the first component is a common noun in apposition.

N o t e. — In case the common noun is preceded by a possessive or a

demonstrative pronoun, it becomes more important and acquires a stronger

stress. Consequently the relation between the components of the word group

is reversed. The first component is modified by the name of a person or a

geographical name which is an apposition:

That boy Peter has a literary turn of mind. He is sure to become a writer.

Sometimes the apposition consists of the preposition of + noun, e. g. the town of Daventry, the city of London.¹

¹ For this treatment of the close apposition see: В. Н. Жигадло, И. П. Иванова, Л. Л, Иофик, Современный английский язык, М., 1956, стр. 290.