The view was amazing - we could see the sea in the distance

[milan2003_07]

Good afternoon everyone,

The sentence below has been taken from the Students' Book entitled "English File. Pre-Intermediate" by Christina Latham-Koenig, Clive Oxenden, Jerry Lambert, and Paul Seligson.

"The view was amazing - we could see the sea in the distance. We took photos and just sat in the sun for a while".

Is it possible to say "at a distance", or "at the distance", or "in a distance"?

"The view was amazing - we could see the sea in a distance. We took photos and just sat in the sun for a while".
"The view was amazing - we could see the sea at a distance. We took photos and just sat in the sun for a while".
"The view was amazing - we could see the sea at the distance. We took photos and just sat in the sun for a while".

Are any of these 3 sentences possible? If so, what will be the difference in meaning, if any?

 

[jutfrank]

No, no, and no.

 

[milan2003_07]

OK!

Is it possible to use the expressions I've provided in the sentences below? In other words, do these constructions exist (in a distance, at a distance, at the distance)?

If these constructions are still possible, could you please give a few examples?

 

[Tarheel]

The phrase "at a distance" is well-known.

What did you find when you googled "in a distance"?

 

[milan2003_07]

The phrase "at a distance" is well-known.

What did you find when you googled "in a distance"?

I have found the entry clarifying "in the distance".

in the distance

1. at a point that is far away: 2. at a point that is far away:

dictionary.cambridge.org

What's the difference between "in the distance" and "at a distance"? As far as I know, we can use both of these constructions when speaking about something located far away from the place where we are now.

When I was working as a tour guide, I would often say phrases like "We can see the Palace Bridge at a distance". I hardly ever used "in the distance" because I was advised in one of the English-taught forums to use "at a distance". Of course, if I remember everything correctly because nearly 8 years have passed since then.

I'm not sure about "in a distance". I've googled it:

in a distance - Google Search

There are some examples, but on forums that seem dubious to me. I'm not sure they're correct.

https://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst188122_in-at-a-the-distance-in-at-a-the-distance.aspx

I saw a man in a distance
Do you see an object in a distance?

Are these correct?

There are also some examples from Reverso Context:

In a distance - Translation into Russian - examples English | Reverso Context

Translations in context of "In a distance" in English-Russian from Reverso Context: Everything is in a distance of a mouse click.

context.reverso.net

Everything is in a distance of a mouse click.

Use the widest possible aperture and keep the groom in a distance from the bride.

Having arrived at the site, wait for the explosion in a distance - the work of Hosea and Abigail - and move to the bank.

In a distance of 30 kilometers from Larnaca city, the house for sale in Skarinou will reward you in the future and will become suitable house for those who are looking to invest and buy home in Cyprus either for permanent residence or for holiday house in Larnaca.

Are they fine?

 

[jutfrank]

As with your examples, the phrase 'in the distance' is for talking about things that you can see or hear a long way away.

The phrase 'at a distance' is to express a sense of being or staying physically or emotionally separated from someone or something. Look at these examples:

She watched the performance at a distance, standing near the back of the crowd.
He kept people at a distance after the breakup, not allowing anyone to get too close.
The historian examined the events of the past at a distance, without personal bias.

The phrases 'in a distance' and 'at the distance' don't exist.

 

[Tarheel]

The phrase "in the distance" was what I got also. In fact, I didn't get anything for the phrase I asked about.