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Near, close, or next to
Near means not far, usually with no to; close also means not far but takes to before a place; next to means right beside, with nothing between.
Quick rule
Close to a place: near or close to. Touching: next to.
Not far from, usually with no to after it: near the station. It can also stand alone at the end: It is near.
Near, but it needs to before a place: close to the park. Also used for people who are very connected. The adjective is pronounced with an S.
Beside, with nothing between: next to the door. It is always two words.
How to choose
| Question | near | close | next to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does it take to before the place (___ the park)? | SometimesSometimes | Yes | Yes |
| Does it mean touching, with nothing between? | No | No | Yes |
| Can it describe people who are very connected (___ friends)? | No | Yes | No |
| Can it end a sentence with no place (It is very ___.)? | Yes | Yes | No |
Why it trips people up
All three tell you where something is, but they use different small words. Near usually takes no to, close takes to, and next to already has it. People mix them up because they all answer "not far".
How each one works
Near
near + here, no to
Is there a pharmacy near here?
near + place, no to
We live near the beach.
Close in time
The test is near, so I am studying every night.
Close
close to + place
Our school is close to the park.
close to + person
Stay close to the guide; it is easy to get lost here.
A near relationship
I love my cousin; we are very close.
Next to
Beside a person
Sit next to me, please.
Buildings side by side
The bank is next to the post office.
One thing beside another
Her bag was next to the door.
What comes next
near plus place
The hotel is near the airport.
close to plus place or person
The market is close to my office.
next to plus place or person
There is a bench next to the fountain.
Set phrases
Near
- nearby
- not far away
Close
- a close call
- a situation where something bad almost happened
Next to
- next to nothing
- very little
Almost the same
The café is near the bank.
A short distance, no to.
The café is close to the bank.
The same, but with to.
The café is next to the bank.
Touching, with nothing between.
In a conversation
- A:
Is the library far from your house?
- B:
No, it's close. I live next to the park, and the library is near it.
- A:
Great. Is it close to the bus stop too?
- B:
Yes, the stop is next to the library door.
- A:
Perfect. I will study there tonight.
- B:
Good idea. It's quiet and near everything.
Common mistakes
Wrong: The park is near of my house.
Right: The park is near my house.
Near takes no of: near my house. Close takes to: close to my house.
Wrong: The shop is next of the library.
Right: The shop is next to the library.
The preposition is next to: two words, with to.
Memory trick
Count the words: near usually goes without to (near to exists but is longer). Close takes to before a place. Next to has its to built in and means "touching".
It depends
- Near to is also possible
- Cambridge shows near (to) as a preposition, so near to the station is acceptable too.
- Close: two pronunciations
- The adjective close (near) ends in an S sound; the verb close (shut) ends in a Z sound.
FAQ
Near vs close: what is the difference?
Near usually does not take to; close does. They both mean not far.
Near vs close vs next to?
Near and close to mean not far. Next to means right beside, with nothing between.
Is "close to" correct?
Yes. Close to is correct before a place or a person: close to the park.