[Grammar] the night/ at night

[Maybo]

[h=1]He works the night. He works at night[/h]What's the difference?

 

[emsr2d2]

He works the night.
He works at night.

What's the difference?

The main difference is that the first one is not grammatically correct.

If he works every night, then we can say "He works nights" or "He works at night". If it's an occasional event, use "Sometimes, he works at night", "Sometimes, he works all night", "Sometimes, he works during the night" or "Sometimes, he works at night".

If he works somewhere where some people work during the day and some at night, you could use "He works the night shift".

 

[GoesStation]

You may also see sentences like He worked the night of the fire or, more commonly, He was working the night of the fire.

 

[Maybo]

You may also see sentences like He worked the night of the fire or, more commonly, He was working the night of the fire.

Why is this sentence correct?

 

[teechar]

That's because in GoesStation's sentence, the definite article specifies which night that person worked (that of the fire).

Can I ask what prompted you to use "the" in "he works the night"?

 

[Maybo]

That's because in GoesStation's sentence, the definite article specifies which night that person worked (that of the fire).

Can I ask what prompted you to use "the" in "he works the night"?

I just heard someone said that and I am not sure about it.

 

[teechar]

As it stands, it's not natural.