playing <a> piano

[Ostap]

Hello, teachers. Describing this picture, could I say, "I see a girl playing a piano."? I am referring to the act of playing the instrument (as a physical object), not the ability to play the piano. Could I use "a" or should I still use "the"?

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, you can. You've got the difference in meaning more or less right.

 

[emsr2d2]

In various dialects of English, you'll hear "She's playing piano", She's playing a piano" and "She's playing the piano". I'd use the third for that picture.

 

[jutfrank]

She's playing piano.
She's playing the piano.

These both mean to focus on what type of instrument she's playing.

She's playing the piano.

This could have a different meaning, referring to a particular piano.

She's playing a piano.

This also focuses on a particular instrument, as an object.

 

[jutfrank]

In various dialects of English, you'll hear "She's playing piano", She's playing a piano" and "She's playing the piano".

Dialectic differences would account only for the first and third forms. The second has a different meaning.

 

[emsr2d2]

Dialectic differences would account only for the first and third forms. The second has a different meaning.

I wasn't suggesting that they meant the same thing. I wasn't clear. I simply meant that, without further context, you might hear all three of those from people you showed that picture to.

 

[jutfrank]

I wasn't suggesting that they meant the same thing. I wasn't clear.

Yes. I was just trying to clarify.