azz
Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2004
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- French
- Home Country
- France
- Current Location
- United States
a. I told him that in order to get a certain repair done on his car, he had to go to John.
b. I told him that in order to get a specific repair done on his car, he had to go to John.
Do these sentences mean the same?
I think in (a) the speaker does have one single specific repair in mind. He knows exactly what reapir has to be done.
I am not sure (b) could replace (a). Here one might be thinking about 'any specific repair'.
We can say 'any specific repair' but we can't say 'any certain repair'!!! I just noticed that.
But could 'specific' replace 'certain' in the case of the example sentences?
Many Thanks.
b. I told him that in order to get a specific repair done on his car, he had to go to John.
Do these sentences mean the same?
I think in (a) the speaker does have one single specific repair in mind. He knows exactly what reapir has to be done.
I am not sure (b) could replace (a). Here one might be thinking about 'any specific repair'.
We can say 'any specific repair' but we can't say 'any certain repair'!!! I just noticed that.
But could 'specific' replace 'certain' in the case of the example sentences?
Many Thanks.