violin/ a violin

[asako87]

Your daughter is playing the violin late at night. In this case, what will you say to your daughter among (1) You should not play a violin., (2) You should not play the violin?, and (3) You should not play violin? Are (1), (2), and(3) all correct? At school I learned that I have to put "the" before the musical instruments. However, I sometimes saw " play a piano" in the sentences in the websites.

 

[Rover_KE]

#2 is nearest. I'd say 'You shouldn't play your violin this late at night - you're keeping me/the neighbours/everybody awake'.

 

[asako87]

#2 is nearest. I'd say 'You shouldn't play your violin this late at night - you're keeping me/the neighbours/everybody awake'.

I'm sorry I don't know what " nearest" means. You mean in this case, "You should not play a violin" is wrong or can be acceptable?

 

[GoesStation]

I'm sorry I don't know what " nearest" means. You mean in this case, "You should not play a violin" is wrong or can be acceptable?

It's not natural in the scenario you described but it's possible in other contexts.