Bonjour Ann, When we talk about this time of the day or the day or the year as a precise moment, a time unit in which an action took place, we use the masculine forms: un an (a year), le jour (the day), le matin (the morning), le soir (the evening). When we consider that part of the day or this day or year in its duration, when we emphasise the length of time, we use the feminine forms: une année (a year), la journée (the day), la matinée (the morning), la soirée (the evening). I think the nuance here is quite differentiating in the usage of la journée, i.e. J'ai passé le jour ou la journée avec Martin. This might be a better example to use: Les chauve-souris dorment pendant la journée. Bats sleep during the day / daytime. For the most part, everyone knows that bats sleep during the day, i.e. la journée, that is a duration As compared to: Le soir, je bois un verre avec mes amis. In the evening, I have a drink with my friends This phrase is indicative of a habit that le locuteur is talking about, i.e. every evening he has drinks with his friends which is again indicative of a period of time. J'espère que cela vous aidera. Bonne chance,