"In winter grandmother used the balcony as a refrigerator."

Translation: Зимой бабушка использовала балкон как холодильник.

[pooooooooorleno]

You could also say Зимой бабушка использовала балкон В КАЧЕСТВЕ холодильника - it sounds more natural in Russian

[kpagcha]

What does it mean? What's the difference with the Duolingo translation?

[Dr.Fandey]

There's no difference at all. It means the same. Just another good way to say that in Russian. You can perfectly use both of them and translate "to use (something / someone) as..." as "использовать (что-то / кого-то) как..." or "использовать (что-то / кого-то) в качестве...". The second phrase is a little bit more "official", maybe.

[Rekty]

So what does в качестве mean?

[Dr.Fandey]

ABBYY Lingvo Dictionary, Essential Russian <-> English, 2015:

В качестве (кого-либо/чего-либо): as, in one's capacity (of), by way (of), for, as

в качестве варианта — alternatively, by way of illustration, as an illustration

в качестве основы (для) — as a basis (for)

в качестве отправного пункта — as the starting point

в качестве примера — as a case in point

[Dr.Fandey]

"As" is much better in this case

[Rekty]

By way of a refrigerator?

[DerAndereLerner]

In the quality (the noun derived from the word "HOW") of?

[ValentinZache]

я ещё делаю это ))

[Dr.Fandey]

Все делают это, но не все признаются)))
Everyone does it, but not everyone can confess! )

[edyapd]

Это смотря у кого какие зимы. У нас зимой -30 вполне нормальная температура. Бывает опускается до -40. Так, что как холодильник использовать не получится, только как морозильник.

[lunaexoriens]

А где ты живешь?

[edyapd]

Россия, Новосибирск

[Toetya]

Are both балкон and холодильник in the accusative case, i.e. direct objects of использовала, or is холодильник in the nominative case?

[Dr.Fandey]

Yes, you're right, they are both in accusative!

[cherub721]

Why not холодильником? Aren't you supposed to use instrumental when using something as something else?

[Dr.Fandey]

Пользоваться (чем?) ХолодильникОМ

Использовать (что?) Холодильник

Использовать как (что?) Холодильник

Использовать в качестве (чего?) ХолодильникА

[cherub721]

Makes sense, thank you!

[lotsmanov.a]

Why 'grandmother' goes without article?

[AndrewBolg1]

'A grandmother' would imply that any grandmother would do this; 'the grandmother' would refer to a specific grandmother belonging to the family being discussed; just 'grandmother' means that s/he is referring to his or her own grandmother

[lotsmanov.a]

Thank you. I understood. But why they didn't use "my grandmother" in this case?

[AndrewBolg1]

You could and I probably would. 'My grandmother' might sound a little odd, however, if used in conversation with other members of the family who know the lady in question. If you just say 'grandmother' you are using the name of your relationship as a substitute for her personal name. My impression is that Russian people do this a lot, British people less so. Stylistically, if I were introducing my grandmother to a conversation, I'd probably refer to her as 'my grandmother' but after that, I might just call her 'grandmother'. But I wouldn't worry too much about it!

[lotsmanov.a]

Thank you very much! I understood. I just have some difficulties with using articles that's why I pay attention on such cases.

[Sekisova_tatiana]

Извините, помогите понять, почему мы используем as, а не like?