PARENTHETICAL

PHRASES
Yee Shin Alleh Rosos SPSTE 8
Parenthetical Phrases
A parenthetical phrase, sometimes called
simply a parenthetical, is one that is not
essential to the framing sentence. In the
preceding sentence, the phrase “sometimes
called simply a parenthetical” is itself a
parenthetical because the segments of the
sentence that precede and follow it can be
attached to form a complete sentence
without it: “A parenthetical phrase is one that
is not essential to the framing sentence.”
However, a parenthetical can also begin
or end a sentence, and though only these
three syntactical variations exist, a
parenthetical can be categorized as
serving one of eight functions.
Here are the eight(8) types of parenthetical
phrases:
• Absolute Phrase
• Appositive
• Aside
• Free Modifier
• Interjection
• Introductory Phrase
• Resumptive Modifier
• Summative Modifier
Absolute Phrase

An absolute phrase, which contains at least

a noun or a pronoun and a participle but not
a true verb, modifies the entire sentence:
“Jane stayed up late, writing her report.”
(The phrase may also begin the sentence.)
Examples of Absolute Phrase:
Marshall held onto the ball, his fingers
squeezing it tightly.
I will be back tomorrow, weather permitting.

An absolute phrase is a phrase that modifies

a noun in a sentence, but it is not connected
to the sentence by a conjunction. It is set off
with a comma only, and it could be removed
from the sentence without changing the
meaning of the sentence.
Appositive
Appositives are nouns, noun phrases, or
noun clauses that rename a noun that
comes just before them. Remember that an
appositive can be a single word or several
words. Appositives can be essential or
nonessential. If the appositive is necessary
for the meaning of the sentence, then it is
essential. This means that it cannot be left
out. If the appositive is not essential for the
meaning of the sentence, and it could be left
out, then it is nonessential.
Examples of Appositive:
1. My sister Jane is 27 years old. (Jane
renames sister)
2. My mom, who is a nurse, drives a red car.
(Who is a nurse renames mom, but it is not
essential for the meaning of the sentence.)
3. The boy who painted this picture is named
Kevin. (Who painted this picture renames
boy, and it is essential for the meaning of the
sentence.)
4. Sarah's dog Rover is a golden retriever.
(Rover renames dog.)
Aside
An aside is a statement that is subordinated
to the sentence, often denoting an
ingratiating or apologetic attitude. It might
also be placed within parentheses to more
clearly identify it as a trivial comment or
between em dashes to signal its sudden
and/or unexpected impact: “Her friend, I
hesitate to say, has betrayed her.”
Free Modifier
The man's face, red with rage, twisted into
contorted snarl.

This is an example of a parenthetical phrase

called Free Modifier. It adds information to a
sentence without disrupting the flow and and
helps the reader better visualize what is
happening in the text. Also, observe how the
phrase can be omitted without harming the
framing of the sentence
Free modifiers can also add information
crutial to the development of a story, but still
plays no part in the framing of the sentence.

My father, upon looking at my report card,

banned me from communicating to my
friends.
Interjection

An interjection imparts information about the

writer’s (or speaker’s) state of mind, as in
this sentence in which the interjection
implies impatience or indignation.

Example:
"Well, what do you have to say to yourself?"
Introductory Phrase
A parenthetical can also be used in the form
of introductory phrase.
However, the boy was deemed too short to
ride the roller coaster.
To no vail, the boys attempted to cheat on
their final exam.
Unfortunately, the robbers had stolen
belongings from the safety deposit baskets
as well.
In the form of intoductory phrases,
parentheticals can promote flow from one
sentence to the next within an essay. Again,
the parenthetical can be omitted while still
leaving the sentence intact.
Resumptive Modifier
In English grammar, a resumptive modifier is
a modifier that repeats a key word (usually
at or near the end of a main clause) and
then adds informative or descriptive details
related to that word.
"The resumptive modifier reaches into a
string of terms and pulls out one for the
emphasis of repetition."
Examples
• "Edith looked out on the morning, the soft
bright morning that struck her dazzled
dazzling eyes."
• "My grandmother is a woman who used to
crack Brazil nuts open with her teeth, a
woman who once lifted a car off the
ground, when there was an accident and
it had to be moved."
Summative Modifier

A summative modifier is a modifier (usually

a noun phrase) that appears at the end of a
sentence and serves to summarize the idea
of the main clause.
The term summative modifier was
introduced by Joseph M. Williams in his
article "Defining Complexity"
Examples
• "[One] method of connecting the trailing
element to the main clause is with a word
that restates or sums up what has been
said, a technique I am using in the
sentence you are reading now."
• "For some time it has been a noisy
pageant--laughter, gunfire, war whoops,
the intoning of sermons, a politician's
blast, the cries of love and pain, iron-shod
wheels on cobblestones--all in all a
terrible racket."