In French, certain adjectives change their meanings depending if they appear before or after the noun.
The French adjective certain changes meaning according to its position
Look at these uses of certain/certaine:
Before the noun, certain/certaine means some or particular: it retains a vagueness here.
After the noun, the meaning of certain is similar to the English one of being sure, certain, unquestionable, definite.
Note: generally adjectives appear after the noun, but some very common adjectives go before.
See also:
Ancien = former/old (French Adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Cher= dear/expensive (French Adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Propre = own/clean (French Adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Dernier = final/previous (French Adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Vrai = real/true (French Adjectives that change meaning according to position)
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