When I was young, I used to play the flute.

当我年轻的时候我吹长笛。

A Did you play a musical instrument when you were young?

A 你年轻的时候摆弄乐器吗？

B Yes, but it was a long time ago. When I was young, I used to play the flute.

B 是的，那是很久以前的事情了。当我年轻的时候，我常常吹长笛。

A Why did you stop?

A 那你为什么后来不吹了？

B Well, I didn’t have the time. Also, I was more interested in sports. I loved football.

B 哦，我没有时间。而且，我对运动更感兴趣。我喜欢踢足球。

A Now I see. Football instead of the flute.

A 现在我明白了。你用足球取代了长笛。

B Well, maybe I should start playing music again.

B 嗯，也许我应该重新开始玩乐器。

Notes注释

1.Remember the verb phrase used to . . . / used to . . . when you talk about something you did in the past for a period of time but no longer do, eg I used to play the piano / I used to play the piano : I used to live in Shanghai, now I live in Beijing / I used to live in Shanghai, now I live in Beijing.

记住动词短语used to . . . / 过去常常 . . .用于谈论你在过去一段时间做过但是现在不再做的某件事。例如I used to play the piano /我过去曾弹钢琴。I used to live in Shanghai, now I live in Beijing /我过去住在上海，现在我住在北京。

2.Remember also various time phrases, eg: a long time ago / a long time ago : I didn’t have the time / I didn’t have the time.

也请记住表示时间的短语，例如：a long time ago /很久以前：I didn’t have the time /我没有时间。

Key phrases and sentences

Did you play a musical instrument when

you were young?

Yes, but it was a long time ago.

When I was young, I used to play the flute.

Why did you stop?

Well, I didn’t have the time.

Also, I was more interested in sports.

I loved football.

Now I see. Football instead of the flute.

Well, maybe I should start playing music again.

你年轻的时候摆弄乐器吗？

是的，那是很久以前的事情了。

当我年轻的时候，我常常吹长笛。

那你为什么后来不吹了？

哦，我没有时间。

而且，我对运动更感兴趣。

我喜欢踢足球。

现在我明白了。你用足球取代了长笛。

嗯，也许我应该重新开始玩乐器。