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A certain


pinosilano May 30, 2011 04:42 AM
A certain
 
Es la primera vez que leo una fábula en inglés que empiece así:
Quote:
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 May 30, 2011 05:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinosilano (Post 111500)
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 May 30, 2011 07:37 AM
Certain in this case means specific not sure.

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

Caballero May 30, 2011 12:11 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles (Post 111505)
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 June 06, 2011 09:05 AM
Muchas gracias a todos.


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