Noun phrases: two noun phrases together

We can put two noun phrases (np) together to refer to the same person or thing. This is called apposition:

I report to [NP1] Frank Stein, [NP2] Vice-president of marketing, with whom I meet weekly.
[NP1] John Tebbitt, [NP2] a newcomer to marathons, ran a very good race.

Punctuation

Noun phrases in apposition are normally separated by commas in writing (see the examples above). Where the second noun phrase identifies the first, commas are not necessary:

[NP1] My brother [NP2] Roger lives in New Zealand but [NP1] my brother [NP2] Kevin never left home.
(Roger and Kevin identify which brothers the speaker or writer is referring to.)

Punctuation​

Punctuation