Sep 8th, 2012, 01:34 am
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Sue | | Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006 Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
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Re: this Mr Johnson? "this" is often used to replace the definite article in English - eg : So I walked in and there was this man just sitting there...
I can't find any examples of it used like this with names, though it's not impossible to imagine it : So I walked in and there was this Mr. Evans sitting there.
It's more often used with its normal demonstrative meaning - ie referring to something already mentioned. So it has the meaning "The same Mr Johnson that we have been talking about." Here's Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice : I wonder that the very pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you!
Other examples : So who is this Mr. Johnson?
This Mr. Johnson is OK!
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