is it correct to say "at the lessons"?

Question

Many Russian textbooks use the adverbial "at the lessons" meaning that something takes place during some lessons/classes.

For example: "Children call each other names at the lessons".

I heard that native speakers never used this adverbial and it's a mistake in Russian textbooks.

Do natives usually use "in class" or "in the lessons" when they mean that something takes place during classes? Please, make it clear.

Answer 1

"At the lessons" is not idiomatic, but it's also unclear what your sentence is trying to say. This sounds like a direct translation of a Russian idiom, that might not have the intended meaning in English. I can think of three possible meanings:

1. If you mean during the general time spent in an institution of learning (both inside and outside the classroom), then "at school" is probably the most idiomatic choice:

   Children often call each other names at school.

2. If you mean during the time spent in the classroom, then "in class" is idiomatic:

   Children often call each other names in class.

3. If you specifically mean during the time spent learning school subjects, then "during lessons" is idiomatic:

   Children often call each other names during lessons.

Without knowing more context, it's impossible to say which works best. Personally, I would be more likely to say "in school" because I recognize that children are more likely to call each other names where teachers and other authority figures won't overhear them. But this may be different in other school systems.

Answer 2

It is usually more natural and idiomatic to say "in lessons" rather than "in the lessons". In your specific example, the word during sounds better still:

Children call each other names during lessons.

That said, in a context where you have already specified certain lessons, it could be appropriate to use the definite article to refer back to them. For example:

We will be doing a special project for 6 weeks. During the lessons, children will partake in different activities.

This seems correct because you have referred to specific lessons (only those during the 6-week project).