Is it necessary to add " the" before an instrument?

China
July 24, 2018 6:31am CST
We were taught at school that we should always add the word "the" before an instrument. Such as, I can play the piano. I can play the guitar. I want to know if it's true? Do you always use "the" when you say you can play an instrument?
7 people like this
7 responses
Mike
@Mike197602 (15506)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul 18
You should but in American English I've seen it plenty of times where people say/write I can play piano...it is far less common in real english
1 person likes this
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69378)
• Germany
24 Jul 18
@Mike197602 I like your 'in real English'!
1 person likes this
bobosusanwang
@bobosusanwang (135)
• China
24 Jul 18
@myklj999 I think you just explained when we should add " the" ?
bobosusanwang
@bobosusanwang (135)
• China
24 Jul 18
American English is not real?
1 person likes this
Kokil agarwal
@amitkokiladitya (171928)
• Agra, India
24 Jul 18
It depends..some format says you should write while some other format says that you should not.
1 person likes this
bobosusanwang
@bobosusanwang (135)
• China
24 Jul 18
Do you mind give me an example that we should use and the other that we shouldn't?
1 person likes this
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69378)
• Germany
24 Jul 18
@amitkokiladitya I play piano is wrong. There is no arguing if you want to write correct English following the grammar rules.
Kokil agarwal
@amitkokiladitya (171928)
• Agra, India
24 Jul 18
@bobosusanwang like we can say that I play piano. But you have to say that I see the sun. Anything which is just one of its kind has to be addressed with a the
May2k8
@May2k8 (18258)
• Indonesia
24 Jul 18
not only for an instrument it also can be "I need go to the bank".
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69378)
• Germany
24 Jul 18
Why would your teachers teach you something that is not true? It's not an individual decision. It's a rule that you have to use 'the' in front of an instrument.
1 person likes this
bobosusanwang
@bobosusanwang (135)
• China
24 Jul 18
Thank you, so you think we should use " the".
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69378)
• Germany
24 Jul 18
@bobosusanwang As I've already said: It's not what I or somebody else 'thinks'. It's a rule and that's the end of the discussion. You can follow the rule and write correct English or you don't follow it and write wrong English.
solxee
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
24 Jul 18
Why do you doubt your English teacher?
Jessa Bumagat
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
24 Jul 18
Yes I always use the word "the" when I am saying, I can play an instrument
Diana
@dya80dya (36155)
•
24 Jul 18
Yes. I use "the".