by night or by the evening

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jasonlulu_2000

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I come across such an expression as "by night", which means "during the night".

If I use the word "evening", should I add the article "the" as "by the evening"?

Thanks for your help!

Jason
 

bhaisahab

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I come across such an expression as "by night", which means "during the night".

If I use the word "evening", should I add the article "the" as "by the evening"?

Thanks for your help!

Jason

No, "by (the) evening" is wrong.
 

emsr2d2

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I come across such an expression as "by night", which means "during the night".

If I use the word "evening", should I add the article "the" as "by the evening"?

Thanks for your help!

Jason

We only use that construction for "by day" and "by night". We don't apply it to other, shorter times of day (morning, afternoon, evening, dusk, dawn, twilight, sunrise, sunset etc).

You can use "by the evening" but not in the same way.

I have to write a report on Tuesday, but I have to write it by the evening because I'm going out for dinner with my sister.

Here, "by the evening" means "before evening arrives".
 
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