Learn Hardcore Russian: Я обычно гуляю по рынку вечером. - I usually stroll through the market in the evening.

The preposition по meaning “around,” “along,” or “throughout” takes the dative case when you talk about moving across or inside an area. That’s why рынку is the dative singular of рынок.

Why is the verb гулять imperfective, and what nuance does that add?

гулять is imperfective, which highlights a habitual or ongoing action—perfect for use with обычно (“usually”). If you used the perfective погулять, it would sound like you’re talking about one single, completed stroll rather than a regular habit.

Could I say гулять на рынке instead of гулять по рынку, and is there a difference?

Yes, you can say гулять на рынке, but there’s a subtle nuance.

на рынке simply means “at the market” (location).
по рынку emphasizes walking around among the stalls or throughout the market.

What case is вечером, and why is it placed at the end of the sentence?

вечером is an adverb of time formed from the instrumental case of вечер, meaning “in the evening.” It answers the question “when?” Word order in Russian is flexible, so putting вечером at the end is perfectly natural, though you could also start the sentence with it for emphasis (e.g., Вечером я обычно гуляю по рынку).

Why is обычно placed before the verb гуляю, and could it appear elsewhere?

обычно (“usually”) typically sits right before the verb it modifies for clarity. You could move it around—Я вечером обычно гуляю по рынку or Я гуляю по рынку обычно вечером—but the original position (Я обычно гуляю…) sounds most natural in everyday speech.

I don’t see any articles like “a” or “the” in the sentence. How does Russian handle that?

Russian has no articles. Nouns stand alone, and context tells you whether it’s definite or indefinite. Here рынку simply means “the market” (in general).

What’s the difference between гулять and ходить when talking about walking?

Both verbs can mean “to walk,” but:

гулять implies strolling for pleasure, without a set destination.
ходить is more neutral and often implies going somewhere with a purpose.
So гулять по рынку suggests you’re casually wandering among the stalls rather than running errands.