Spanish · C1 · Everyday language
Adding an explanation beside a name in Spanish
This guide focuses on using nominal appositions (aposiciones explicativas) to add descriptive details about people or institutions. At the C1 level, you will learn to use these concise additions to provide context without the need for relative clauses, ensuring they agree in number and gender with their reference noun.
What you'll learn
- Identify and use non-restrictive appositions to provide identity context.
- Maintain gender and number agreement between the noun and its descriptive appositive.
- Differentiate between restrictive and non-restrictive appositives using punctuation.
- Integrate appositions naturally into various syntactic roles (subject, direct object, etc.).
Spanish phrases for adding an explanation beside a name
He hablado con la Sra. Roth, nuestra persona de contacto.
I've spoken to Ms Roth, our main contact.
Note the use of 'nuestra' to agree with 'persona'.
¿Podrías enviarle un correo al Sr. Weiss, el coordinador del programa?
Could you email Mr Weiss, the programme coordinator?
The appositive 'el coordinador' provides context for the indirect object 'Sr. Weiss'.
Vamos a conocer a Lea, la integrante más joven del panel.
We're meeting Lea, the youngest member of the panel.
Uses the personal 'a' for Lea, with the appositive following the comma.
Eso vino de la fundación, una organización benéfica educativa independiente.
That came from the foundation, an independent educational charity.
'Una organización' explains what the foundation is.
Me gustaría darle las gracias a nuestro vecino, un oyente notablemente paciente.
I'd like to thank our neighbour, a remarkably patient listener.
An apposition used to add a subjective characterization.
¿Has tenido noticias de Karim, tu antiguo compañero de debate?
Have you heard from Karim, your former debate partner?
Apposition to a noun inside a prepositional phrase.
La sugerencia del presidente, un compromiso temporal, parece sensata.
The chair's suggestion, a temporary compromise, seems sensible.
Here the appositive refers to an abstract concept ('la sugerencia').
¿Podrías presentar al facilitador, un trabajador juvenil experimentado?
Could you introduce the facilitator, an experienced youth worker?
The appositive adds professional context concisely.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
persona de contacto
point of contact / main contact
More natural in business contexts than 'contacto principal'.
organización benéfica
charity
Used for non-profits with a social or educational focus.
compromiso
compromise / agreement
In this context, it refers to a middle-ground solution between parties.
facilitador
facilitator
Commonly used for professionals leading workshops or discussions.
Aposiciones Explicativas (Explanatory Appositions)
In Spanish, non-restrictive appositions are placed between commas. They provide extra information about a noun that is already identified. Unlike restrictive appositions (e.g., 'Mi amigo Juan'), explanatory ones require commas and usually carry the same gender and number as the noun they describe, though nouns of different genders can be paired if the meaning allows.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Apposition | [Noun], [Noun Phrase], ... | Madrid, la capital de España, es ruidosa. |
| Direct Object Apposition | ... a [Name], [Noun Phrase] | Llamé a Luis, el mecánico. |
| Number Agreement | Plural Noun + Plural Appositive | Los directores, expertos en su área, decidieron... |
More examples
Busca a Marta, la encargada de la biblioteca.
Look for Marta, the person in charge of the library.
Defines Marta's role immediately.
Escribí a los Gómez, nuestros antiguos caseros.
I wrote to the Gómezes, our former landlords.
Shows plural agreement in apposition.
Fue una idea de Lucas, un genio de la informática.
It was an idea from Lucas, a computer genius.
Indefinite article 'un' is used for characteristic-based appositions.