Is it possible to put the definite article before the name of a person?
I once asked someone to proofread my writing, and she rewrote a sentence of my article as below. I have seen the indefinite article "a or an" is put before the name of a person. but I have not seen any definite article before the name of a person. Is it possible to put "the" before the name of a person? If possible, in what occasion?
Realizing that a chance has come to humiliate the conceited Paul, Morris asks the messenger what was his previous career.
Top answer
Yes, it's possible. We can do it when there is an adjective before the name, as in your example. This is a literary pattern that should be used sparingly.
- Yes, it's possible.
- We can do it when there is an adjective before the name, as in your example.
- This is a literary pattern that should be used sparingly.
- It not usual in conversation.
- Also, we can do it when the name is post-modified by a "that" or "who" clause.
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Yes, it's possible. We can do it when there is an adjective before the name, as in your example. This is a literary pattern that should be used sparingly. It not usual in conversation. Also, we can do it when the name is post-modified by a "that" or "who" clause. e.g. "He isn't the Paul that I remember" or "The Paul who came here had dark hair, not blond".
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