apposition

apposition (apposisjon): expansion of a noun phrase, whereby a second noun phrase is added which has the same reference as the first, but a different form. E.g. Tony Blair, the British prime minister; my youngest sister, Carrie; the most beautiful cottage, the place I always dreamt of owning. Sometimes a nominal clause can be in apposition to a noun phrase, if it defines or specifies the reference of the noun phrase. E.g. the fact that they can’t afford it; their belief that nature is sacred.