[Grammar] indefinite article before a person's name

[m5000]

Hi,

I came across the following sentence in one of the Harry Potter books:

"She wrestled a screaming Dudley into his high chair."

Dudley is a boy's name

Why is the indefinite article used before the name? What does it signify?

 

[birdeen's call]

It's just what English speakers do. When a person's name comes with an adjective, it often gets the indefinite article. Try this -- you will find some interesting posts there.

 

[Raymott]

Also, it's not necessarily the indefinite article. If Dudley had already between described as "screaming", the sentence would read:

"She wrestled ​

the screaming Dudley in to his high chair."
That is, the normal rules apply.
​