Itasan  +  188846 Thu, 26 Jan 06 03:42 AM Which is correct? 1. You are good at piano. 2. You are good at the piano. 3. You are good at playing the piano. Thank you. Itasan Joined on Wed, May 11 2005 Japan Full Member 402

	Clive  +  188866 Thu, 26 Jan 06 06:50 AM Hi, #3 is fine. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,301 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Itasan  +  188880 Thu, 26 Jan 06 08:04 AM  Clive wrote: Hi, #3 is fine. Best wishes, Clive Thank you very much for the valuable info as always, Clive. Itasan

	Forbes  +  188951 Thu, 26 Jan 06 01:16 PM No. 1 is definitely not Standard British English. No. 2 could imply that the person addressed is well-behaved at the piano. Forbes Joined on Thu, Jun 16 2005 Regular Member 895 British English

	Itasan  +  189768 Sat, 28 Jan 06 01:34 AM  Forbes wrote: No. 1 is definitely not Standard British English. No. 2 could imply that the person addressed is well-behaved at the piano. I see. So in the UK, "She is good at the piano" is taken as "She's a good girl in front of (behind??) the piano"? I wonder if it means "She is good at playing the piano" in the US. BTW, 'in front of the piano' or 'behind the piano'? Thank you. Itasan British English

	LeicesterLad  +  189793 Sat, 28 Jan 06 03:09 AM Hmm, I wouldn't say that.  Unless you specifically imply something different, 2 and 3 would be understood in the UK to mean simply that you are a skilled pianist.  Phrase 1, as said, sounds a bit odd in isolation, but could be heard in certain contexts, for example, 2 friends talking: "You're very good at painting" "Really?  Thankyou.  You are very good at piano"  LeicesterLad Joined on Fri, Sep 16 2005 N E England (Orig from Leicester) Junior Member 81

	Forbes  +  189908 Sat, 28 Jan 06 12:36 PM  Itasan wrote: I see. So in the UK, "She is good at the piano" is taken as "She's a good girl in front of (behind??) the piano"? I wonder if it means "She is good at playing the piano" in the US. Not quite. "She is good at the piano can mean "She is a good piano player" but can also mean "She is well behaved at the piano." I concede that the second meaning is perhaps a little strained. Sentences like this rarely occur in isolation so the context will usually tell you the correct meaning.  Itasan wrote: BTW, 'in front of the piano' or 'behind the piano'? At the piano usually means you are sitting down ready to play or are actually playing. In front of the piano would usually be used to refer to someone standing near the piano on the same side as the keyboard. Behind the piano would mean you were on the other side. (Don't ask about grand pianos which have three sides!) Forbes