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Ask for help > ´Play the piano ´ or ´play on the piano ´? ´Ride a horse ´ or ´ride on a horse ´???
´Play the piano ´ or ´play on the piano ´? ´Ride a horse ´ or ´ride on a horse ´???
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irynka1
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´Play the piano ´ or ´play on the piano ´? ´Ride a horse ´ or ´ride on a horse ´???
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Native speakers, please, answer which is correct.
´Play the piano ´ or ´play on the piano ´? ´Ride a horse ´ or ´ride on a horse ´??? |
12 Oct 2009
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Jake Blues
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Though I ´m not a native speaker, I can PLAY THE PIANO and RIDE A HORSE! 
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12 Oct 2009
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Kate (kkcat)
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Well, usually we use ´ride a horse ´ but among the examples in OXFORD ADVANCED LEARNER ´S DICTIONARY I have seen this: He was riding on a large black horse. I guess the reason for this is just specifying the situation...or just because English is a flexible language ;).
People say: play the piano but play jazz on the piano :) The example has been seen in the dicitionary mentioned above.
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12 Oct 2009
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kmtr
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I love these "native English speaker" questions because it really makes me think about what I say and when....
I agree with Kate, I think the preposition turns to "on" when you are specifying, or distinguishing it from something else. For example-- He plays the piano. (general info) and He plays "jazz on the piano" (as opposed to playing it on some other instrument.) She rides horses. (as a general pasttime) but she rode to the store on a horse (as opposed to another form of transportation.)
I ´m not really sure if my analysis of WHY the difference is there is right, but that ´s the best thinking of when I use the two examples....Hope this helps... |
12 Oct 2009
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