"The ambitious Caesar, the great Gatsby, Alexander the Great"

Question

Hi, I am in huge confusion now with pronouns modifiied by adjectives  When I learned English in school, in general, English does not allow proper nouns to be modified by adjectives because they are the only one in the world, so there is no need to modify them. However, I could hear many phrases such as "The ambitious Caesar, the great Gatsby, Alexander the Great" even happy 's names.Why are there acceptable? Is there a different reason from general English grammar. Please help me. I am so in confusion now that I can not think of anything.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousPlease help me. I am so in confusion now that I can not think of anything.

My goodness. I wonder if you're in any state to focus on the answer to your question. Maybe you could fit in a little nap first?

AnonymousWhen I learned English in school, in general, English does not allow proper nouns to be modified by adjectives because they are the only one in the world, so there is no need to modify them.

No need. But that doesn't mean you can't use an adjective that you want to suggest always applies to this particular person as part of the very essence of that person. These adjectives, used in this way, are also called epithets. They are not restrictive, so it doesn't matter that there is only one such person. In other words, they don't serve to point out which of several persons we might be referring to.*

CJ

*An exception is a case where there really is more than one, for example, Mr. Smith, Sr. and Mr. Smith, Jr. or, to bring the Christian apostles into it, James the Greater and James the Lesser.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for the quick answer. So if I understood your reply correctly, thoses adjectives do not implies  although there are many people named Caesar in the world, the man is the Casear who is ambitious, right? Thanks again!!!

Hans51 · Answer

That's what I have been wanting to know. Thanks, I have a question about that. Then, in thess phrases such as "State-run" CCTV, the Effel Tower in Paris",  these adjective phrases, "State-run" and "in Paris" do not say there is more than one CCTV or the Effel Tower, right? Those just say CCTV is run by the state and the Effel Tower is in Paris, right? This was also long time trouble for me.

CalifJim · Answer

Kwang Hee Han That's what I have been wanting to know. Thanks, I have a question about that. Then, in thess phrases such as "State-run" CCTV, the Effel Tower in Paris", these adjective phrases, "State-run" and "in Paris" do not say there is more than one CCTV or the Effel Tower, right? Those just say CCTV is run by the state and the Effel Tower is in Paris, right? This was also long time trouble for me.

That's right.

CJ

"The ambitious Caesar, the great Gatsby, Alexander the Great"

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