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How to mention an uncertain object/thing in English?

English Language & Usage Asked by Jerry Lin on August 16, 2021

I want to know how to mention an uncertain object, like X country.

e.g. I want to go to a certain country no matter where it is because I just need to go out right now.

I found a Question on this website.
It seems I can use a certain country to infer a country that is not specific or particular but it’s just a country in the context.

  1. Is it correct?
  2. Or I should use a country instead?
  3. Or there’s no comparable usage in English?

More example in other languages,

In other languages, such as Japanese or Mandarin, we use あの or 某個 to refer to an object that’s not a specific one but belongs to the group of the object.
That is to say, あの or 某個 often implies the object that the speaker mentioned has specific meanings in the dialogue.


Thanks.

One Answer

I must go to another country.

Another = a different person or thing

She's finished with that boyfriend and found herself another (one).

”Do you want to exchange this toaster for another (one) or do you want your money back?”

Cambridge

Notice how the examples refer to a different but otherwise undefined example selected from the same class of things, just as in your specification.

certain does not have the feeling of otherwise undefined, instead drawing attention to a particular example.

Certain = particular but not named or described:

Cambridge

Correct answer by Anton on August 16, 2021

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