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

当我年轻的时候我常弹钢琴。

A Is it true you used to play the piano?

A 你过去弹过钢琴是真的吗？

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

B 是的，但是那是很久以前的事了。我年轻的时候弹过钢琴。

A But you don’t play any more?

A 但是你现在再也不弹了吗？

B No, I don’t have time. Also, I stopped practicing years ago – and you have to keep practicing.

B 是的，我没有时间。还有，我很多年前就不练了——你得一直练习才行。

A That’s true. Especially with the piano, you must keep practicing.

A 确实如此。钢琴尤其是这样。你必须坚持不懈。

B Well, maybe I should start playing again.

B 哦，也许我应该重新开始弹钢琴。

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, e.g. 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.

当你谈论你在过去曾经做过一段某事，但是现在不做了，用动词短语used to . . . / 过去曾 . . .例如I used to play the piano /我过去曾经弹过钢琴: I used to live in Shanghai, now I live in Beijing /我过去住在上海，现在住在北京。

2 Remember also various time phrases, e.g.: a long time ago / a long time ago ; any more / any more ; years ago / years ago, e.g.: I don’t play the piano any more / I don’t play the piano any more ; I used to play years ago / I used to play years ago.

记住不同的时间短语，例如: a long time ago /很久以前; any more /再也(不);years ago /很多年以前。例如I don’t play the piano any more /我再也不弹钢琴了。; I used to play years ago / 我多年以前弹过。

Key phrases and sentences

Is it true you used to play the piano?

Yes, but it was a long time ago.

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

But you don’t play any more?

No, I don’t have time.

Also, I stopped practicing years

ago – and you have to keep practicing.

That’s true. Especially with the

piano, you must keep practicing.

Well, maybe I should start playingagain.

你过去真的弹过钢琴吗？

是的，但是那是很久以前的事了。

我年轻的时候弹过钢琴。

但是你现在再也不弹了吗？

是的，我没有时间。

还有，我很多年前就不练了,

你得一直练习才行。

确实如此。钢琴尤其是这样，

你必须坚持不懈。

哦，也许我应该重新开始弹钢琴。