Near and far
How near or far is it?
Meaning
Near and far describe how close something is to another person or place. We can give a rough distance or measure it in length or travel time. Languages use words, phrases, or endings for distance, and many have no special distance endings. This and that, here and there points out a person, thing, or place; Near and far describes its distance.
How to spot it
Look for words or phrases that describe or measure how close something is to a person or place.
In your native language
English uses near or close to for a short distance and far from or a long way from for a greater distance. Nearby can stand alone when we do not name the place we are measuring from. Distance can also be given in miles, meters, or travel time.
The bus stop is near the school.
Near is followed directly by the place used to judge the distance.
We live far from the city center.
Far from names a large distance from a particular place.
There's a small shop nearby.
Nearby means close to here or to the place being discussed.
In your learning language
Spanish describes distance with cerca for near and lejos for far, adding de when it names the reference place. Muy and other degree words can make the distance stronger or weaker. Measured distance commonly uses a followed by the amount and de followed by the reference point.
La farmacia está cerca de casa.
The pharmacy is near home.
Vivimos muy lejos del centro.
We live very far from downtown.
Del combines de and el; muy strengthens lejos.
La estación queda a dos kilómetros de aquí.
The station is two kilometers from here.
A introduces the measured distance, and de introduces the reference point.
Learners whose language uses different markers after near and far may not expect de after both cerca and lejos. Learners whose language uses noun endings for distance may omit a in expressions such as a dos kilómetros de aquí.