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  #1
Old May 30, 2011, 03:42 AM
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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.
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  #2
Old May 30, 2011, 04:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pinosilano View Post
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.
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  #3
Old May 30, 2011, 06:37 AM
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Certain in this case means specific not sure.

A sure king...
A specific king...
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  #4
Old May 30, 2011, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
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.
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  #5
Old June 06, 2011, 08:05 AM
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Muchas gracias a todos.
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