Breakdown of Mi prima toca la guitarra y el piano desde niña, pero todavía se pone nerviosa en los conciertos.
en
at
mi
my
pero
but
y
and
Questions & Answers about Mi prima toca la guitarra y el piano desde niña, pero todavía se pone nerviosa en los conciertos.
Why is it toca here?
Toca is the 3rd person singular present tense of tocar.
- tocar = to play a musical instrument
- mi prima = my cousin (female), so the verb must match she
- That gives us: mi prima toca = my cousin plays
The present tense is used here for a habitual / ongoing ability or activity:
- Mi prima toca la guitarra = My cousin plays the guitar
It does not mean she is playing right this second. It means this is something she does / knows how to do.
Why does Spanish say la guitarra and el piano instead of just guitarra and piano?
After tocar, Spanish normally uses the definite article with musical instruments:
- tocar la guitarra
- tocar el piano
- tocar el violín
This is one of the most common differences from English. English usually says:
- play guitar
- play piano
But Spanish usually says:
- play the guitar
- play the piano
So toca la guitarra y el piano is completely natural.
Why is it desde niña and not desde que era niña?