1. 释义：involved in an important way in making something happen
2. 理解："instrumental"来自名词"instrument"(乐器)，除表示与乐器演奏有关系的意思外，还常被用来表示“有帮助的”“起作用的”。我们很多时候可以用它替换helpful，play an important role等表达。
3. 应用：
1）《牛津英语搭配词典》中instrumental作为形容词的常用搭配。
a. important in making sth happen
Verbs+instrumental: be/become;
Adv.+instrumental: highly/largely/partly;
Prep.+instrumental: instrumental in.
b. being only a means to an end
Verbs: be instrumental;
Adv.+: very/purely/merely/essentially.
2) 翻译：教育改变了我的命运。
Education is instrumental in shaping my destiny.(参考翻译：Education has been highly instrumental in transforming my life./Education is an instrumental tool in shaping my destiny.)
3) 造句：
My mother's love and excitement of reading has been instrumental in helping me to be a good learner.(母亲对阅读的热爱帮助我成为了一个善于学习的人。）
