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Idiomatic expressions with or without articles.
Many fixed expressions require the definite article.
Examples include in the morning, at the moment, on the whole, by the way, in the end and all the time.
I usually get up early in the morning.
Обычно я рано встаю утром.
In the morning is a fixed expression with the.
I will call you in the afternoon.
Я позвоню тебе днем.
In the afternoon is a fixed time expression.
We usually relax in the evening.
Обычно мы отдыхаем вечером.
In the evening takes the.
I am busy at the moment.
Я сейчас занят.
At the moment is a fixed expression meaning now.
By the way, I saw your brother yesterday.
Кстати, я вчера видел твоего брата.
By the way is a fixed discourse expression.
In the end, we decided to stay home.
В конце концов мы решили остаться дома.
In the end means finally or after everything was considered.
She checks her email all the time.
Она все время проверяет электронную почту.
All the time is a fixed expression.
On the whole, the plan worked well.
В целом план сработал хорошо.
On the whole is a fixed expression meaning generally.
Many fixed expressions use no article.
Examples include at home, at work, at school, at sea, by hand, by chance, by mistake, on foot and from time to time.
I am staying at home tonight.
Сегодня вечером я остаюсь дома.
At home is a fixed expression with zero article.
She is at work right now.
Она сейчас на работе.
At work normally takes no article.
The kids are at school today.
Дети сегодня в школе.
At school has zero article when referring to normal education.
The baby is already in bed.
Ребенок уже в постели.
In bed is a fixed expression with zero article.
He went to sea when he was eighteen.
Он ушел в море, когда ему было восемнадцать.
Go to sea refers to entering a maritime profession.
She finished the project by hand.
Она сделала проект вручную.
By hand is a fixed zero-article expression.
I found the address by chance.
Я случайно нашел этот адрес.
By chance means accidentally or unexpectedly.
We arrived on foot.
Мы пришли пешком.
On foot is a fixed expression.
Some fixed expressions require the indefinite article.
Examples include in a hurry, have a look, take a seat, make a difference, have a rest and tell a lie.
We are in a hurry.
Мы спешим.
In a hurry is a fixed expression requiring a.
Can I have a look at your phone?
Можно посмотреть на твой телефон?
Have a look is a fixed expression.
Please take a seat.
Пожалуйста, присаживайтесь.
Take a seat is a common fixed expression.
Small changes can make a difference.
Небольшие изменения могут иметь значение.
Make a difference requires a.
You should have a rest before the trip.
Тебе стоит отдохнуть перед поездкой.
Have a rest uses the indefinite article.
It is wrong to tell a lie.
Неправильно лгать.
Tell a lie is a fixed expression.
I need a break.
Мне нужен перерыв.
A break refers to one period of rest.
He gave me a hand with the boxes.
Он помог мне с коробками.
Give someone a hand is a fixed expression meaning help someone.
Many expressions referring to time have fixed article usage.
Examples include in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night, all day, all week and next year.
I exercise in the morning.
Я занимаюсь спортом утром.
In the morning uses the.
We usually eat lunch in the afternoon.
Обычно мы обедаем днем.
In the afternoon is a fixed expression.
They watch TV in the evening.
Они смотрят телевизор вечером.
In the evening takes the.
I rarely go out at night.
Я редко куда-нибудь выхожу ночью.
At night is a fixed time expression with zero article.
She worked all day.
Она работала весь день.
All day takes no article.
It rained all week.
Всю неделю шел дождь.
All week is used without an article.
We are leaving next year.
Мы уезжаем в следующем году.
Next year normally takes no article.
The temperature dropped during the night.
Температура упала в течение ночи.
The night refers to a particular night in the context.
Many expressions referring to places have fixed article usage.
Examples include at home, at work, at school, in bed, in prison, at university and in hospital (British English).
I am at home today.
Я сегодня дома.
At home uses zero article.
He is at work until five.
Он на работе до пяти.
At work is used without an article.
The children are at school.
Дети в школе.
At school refers to normal attendance as students.
She is in bed with a cold.
Она лежит в постели с простудой.
In bed means resting or sleeping and takes zero article.
He is in prison for robbery.
Он находится в тюрьме за ограбление.
In prison refers to imprisonment and takes zero article.
She is at the hospital visiting her mother.
Она в больнице, навещает свою мать.
American English normally uses the hospital rather than British in hospital.
He is in college in Texas.
Он учится в колледже в Техасе.
American English commonly uses in college without an article.
We met at the university during an open house.
Мы встретились в университете во время дня открытых дверей.
The university refers to a particular institution or campus.
Transport expressions often have fixed article patterns.
Examples include by bus, by train, by car, on foot, catch the bus and miss the train.
I usually go to work by bus.
Обычно я езжу на работу на автобусе.
By bus is a fixed zero-article transport expression.
We traveled by train.
Мы ехали поездом.
By train describes the means of transportation.
She went by car.
Она поехала на машине.
By car takes zero article.
We arrived on foot.
Мы пришли пешком.
On foot is the standard fixed expression.
Hurry up or we will miss the bus.
Поторопись, иначе мы опоздаем на автобус.
The bus refers to the specific scheduled or expected bus.
We missed the train by five minutes.
Мы опоздали на поезд на пять минут.
The train is identifiable from the travel situation.
The package was sent by air.
Посылку отправили по воздуху.
By air is a fixed transport expression.
The passengers boarded the plane at noon.
Пассажиры сели в самолет в полдень.
The plane refers to the particular aircraft for the flight.
Many common verb phrases have fixed article usage.
Examples include take a break, make a mistake, pay attention, lose hope, keep the peace and tell the truth.
Let’s take a break.
Давайте сделаем перерыв.
Take a break is a fixed expression with a.
I made a mistake on the form.
Я допустил ошибку в форме.
Make a mistake requires the indefinite article.
Please pay attention to the instructions.
Пожалуйста, обратите внимание на инструкции.
Pay attention is a fixed expression with zero article.
Never lose hope.
Никогда не теряйте надежду.
Lose hope is a fixed expression with zero article.
The police tried to keep the peace.
Полиция старалась поддерживать порядок.
Keep the peace is a fixed expression using the.
You should always tell the truth.
Ты всегда должен говорить правду.
Tell the truth is a fixed expression.
She made a decision after thinking about it carefully.
Она приняла решение после тщательного обдумывания.
Make a decision commonly takes a.
The doctor gave him a warning about the risks.
Врач предупредил его о рисках.
Give someone a warning is a regular countable noun phrase used in a common expression.
Many prepositional phrases have fixed article usage.
Examples include by accident, by mistake, in fact, on purpose, for example, in advance and at once.
I found the keys by accident.
Я случайно нашел ключи.
By accident is a fixed expression.
He deleted the file by mistake.
Он случайно удалил файл.
By mistake means accidentally.
In fact, I already knew the answer.
На самом деле я уже знал ответ.
In fact is a fixed discourse expression.
She did it on purpose.
Она сделала это нарочно.
On purpose is a fixed expression.
For example, you can use a dictionary.
Например, ты можешь использовать словарь.
For example is a fixed expression.
Please send the documents in advance.
Пожалуйста, отправьте документы заранее.
In advance is a fixed expression with zero article.
The doctor arrived at once.
Врач сразу приехал.
At once is a fixed expression meaning immediately.
By accident, we found a small restaurant near the station.
Случайно мы нашли небольшой ресторан возле станции.
By accident functions as a fixed adverbial expression.
Learn fixed expressions as complete phrases rather than applying article rules to each word separately.
Many common expressions are idiomatic. Memorizing them as whole units helps avoid article errors.
I am at home.
Я дома.
Learn at home as a complete expression rather than choosing the article separately.
She is at work.
Она на работе.
At work is normally learned as a fixed expression with zero article.
We go to school every day.
Мы каждый день ходим в школу.
Go to school is an idiomatic expression referring to education.
I go to the school to pick up my daughter.
Я хожу в школу, чтобы забрать дочь.
The school refers to a physical building or specific school, not education as an activity.
He made a mistake.
Он допустил ошибку.
Make a mistake is a fixed verb + noun expression.
She paid attention to the teacher.
Она внимательно слушала учителя.
Pay attention is normally learned as a fixed zero-article expression.
We arrived by bus.
Мы приехали на автобусе.
By bus is a fixed transport expression and does not take an article.
He did it by mistake, not on purpose.
Он сделал это по ошибке, а не нарочно.
Both by mistake and on purpose are fixed expressions that should be learned as complete units.