A certain

[pinosilano]

Es la primera vez que leo una fábula en inglés que empiece así:

A certain king and queen had three daughters...

I've read "Once upon a time..." (classical).

¿Es un modo de comenzar una fábula que tiene un significado especial, o es un capricho?

Anyway if bare must be I prefer A king and a queen had three daughters.
Thanks for your attention.

[Perikles]

I've read "Once upon a time..." (classical).

¿Es un modo de comenzar una fábula que tiene un significado especial, o es un capricho?

Anyway if bare must be I prefer A king and a queen had three daughters.
Thanks for your attention.The standard fairy story beginning is the classical one you quote. But the other one

A certain king ....

is another recognized method of starting a fairy story. The certain is standard code for signalling that the story is just fairy story. If you omit it, you open the possibility that the story has factual truth, or a joke.

[Chris]

Certain in this case means specific not sure.

A sure king...
A specific king...

[Caballero]

The standard fairy story beginning is the classical one you quote. But the other one

A certain king ....

is another recognized method of starting a fairy story. The certain is standard code for signalling that the story is just fairy story. If you omit it, you open the possibility that the story has factual truth, or a joke.
I've never heard of that before.

[pinosilano]

Muchas gracias a todos.