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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Play "the" violin or pay violin?
When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a sport when combined with the verb "play"; thus, play the violin and play soccer.
Now, I don't know if the grammar rules have changed since then, but I definitely heard Ross (of the sitcom, Friends) say "Mike played piano. I used to play keyboards in college."
Is this evolution of the language or the gramatical rule I was taught in High school wrong?
Now, I don't know if the grammar rules have changed since then, but I definitely heard Ross (of the sitcom, Friends) say "Mike played piano. I used to play keyboards in college."
Is this evolution of the language or the gramatical rule I was taught in High school wrong?
Top answer
[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a ... [/nq] In BrE, "play the piano" is usual if one is describing a skill, job or pastime. "Play piano" is less common, and is not often heard in that sense; but it can be used to describe which instrument X played with a particular band.
- [nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a ...
- [/nq] In BrE, "play the piano" is usual if one is describing a skill, job or pastime.
- "Play piano" is less common, and is not often heard in that sense; but it can be used to describe which instrument X played with a particular band.
- "I learned to play the piano in my teens"/"Can you help?
- We need someone to play the organ for a wedding tomorrow"/"John usually plays the violin, but he played viola in our college string quartet".
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10 Answers
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[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a ... keyboards in college." Is this evolution of the language or the gramatical rule I was taught in High school wrong?[/nq]
In BrE, "play the piano" is usual if one is describing a skill, job or pastime. "Play piano" is less common, and is not often heard in that sense; but it ca
In BrE, "play the piano" is usual if one is describing a skill, job or pastime. "Play piano" is less common, and is not often heard in that sense; but it ca
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While it was 1/10/03 12:02 pm throughout the UK, DJ Kim sprinkled little black dots on a white screen, and they fell thus:
[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a sport when combined with the verb "play"; thus, play the violin and play soccer.[/nq]
Correct. "Violin" is a singular countable noun. "Soccer" is uncount
[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a sport when combined with the verb "play"; thus, play the violin and play soccer.[/nq]
Correct. "Violin" is a singular countable noun. "Soccer" is uncount
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[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a ... keyboards in college." Is this evolution of the language or the gramatical rule I was taught in High school wrong?[/nq]
I hear them as slightly different usages (at least in AmE).
If I talk about playing the piano, I am most likely referring to at that moment perform
I hear them as slightly different usages (at least in AmE).
If I talk about playing the piano, I am most likely referring to at that moment perform
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[nq:2]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized ... "Mike played piano. I used to play keyboards in college."[/nq]
There's a much more famous reference for it 30 years ago, as sung by a lad from Bromley with funny-coloured eyes, orange hair and a penchant for wearing stripy tights: "Ziggy played guitar . . . ".
However, the musospeak I've always heard makes a clear dist
There's a much more famous reference for it 30 years ago, as sung by a lad from Bromley with funny-coloured eyes, orange hair and a penchant for wearing stripy tights: "Ziggy played guitar . . . ".
However, the musospeak I've always heard makes a clear dist
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[nq:1]The first of those sample sentences is ungrammatical AIUI. The second is OK, as "keyboards" are plural.[/nq]
The blues ain't got no grammuh
And jazz it don't follow no rules.
I said the blues ain't got no grammuh, babeh,
And jazz, well it follow none o' them rules.
Down home in Alabama
Prescriptivism it's fo' fools.
**
Ross Howard
The blues ain't got no grammuh
And jazz it don't follow no rules.
I said the blues ain't got no grammuh, babeh,
And jazz, well it follow none o' them rules.
Down home in Alabama
Prescriptivism it's fo' fools.
**
Ross Howard
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[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a ... keyboards in college." Is this evolution of the language or the gramatical rule I was taught in High school wrong?[/nq]
When talking about a general ability with an instrument, use the. When talking about a particular role in a group, such as i a band, don't.
Fabian
When talking about a general ability with an instrument, use the. When talking about a particular role in a group, such as i a band, don't.
Fabian
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[nq:1]When I was in high school, my English teacher emphasized that "the" must precede an instrument but must not a ... "play"; thus, play the violin and play soccer. Now, I don't know if the grammar rules have changed since then...[/nq]
The other posters made it clear that both usages are now accepted outside the formal register. But that's not the question your thread title advertised. You p
The other posters made it clear that both usages are now accepted outside the formal register. But that's not the question your thread title advertised. You p
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Whereas these all sound fine to my ear.
Adding a "the" would be acceptable but less common.
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also.
Whereas these all sound fine to my ear.
Adding a "the" would be acceptable but less common.
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also.
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[nq:1] "Violin" is a singular countable noun. [/nq]
Like most English nouns, that depends on the context. My son studied violin. He didn't study one violin, or two violins.
Unless you think that "mathematics" and "psychology" are countable nouns too.
\\P. Schultz
Like most English nouns, that depends on the context. My son studied violin. He didn't study one violin, or two violins.
Unless you think that "mathematics" and "psychology" are countable nouns too.
\\P. Schultz
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While it was 3/10/03 4:14 am throughout the UK, Schultz sprinkled little black dots on a white screen, and they fell thus:
[nq:2] "Violin" is a singular countable noun. [/nq]
[nq:1]Like most English nouns, that depends on the context. My son studied violin. He didn't study one violin, or two violins.[/nq]
Oh, so "violin" is now an uncountable noun meaning "the art/skill of playing the
[nq:2] "Violin" is a singular countable noun. [/nq]
[nq:1]Like most English nouns, that depends on the context. My son studied violin. He didn't study one violin, or two violins.[/nq]
Oh, so "violin" is now an uncountable noun meaning "the art/skill of playing the
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