Is it necessary to add " the" before an instrument?
@bobosusanwang (135)
China
7 responses
@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![](/Content/images/emotes/lol.gif)
![](/Content/images/emotes/lol.gif)
1 person likes this
@bobosusanwang (135)
• China
24 Jul 18
@myklj999
I think you just explained when we should add " the" ?
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@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 (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
@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.
@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
![](/Content/images/ajax-loader.gif)
@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.
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
24 Jul 18
Yes I always use the word "the" when I am saying, I can play an instrument
![](/Content/images/loading.gif)