07 To, towards and up to / Near, close and by

Question 1

Motherwell is near Glasgow

We live near (to) the hospital/ close to the hospital.

Answer 1

Near, near to and close to mean ‘not far from’.

NOT by Glasgow

Question 2

The animals were very tame. They came quite near/close.

Answer 2

Near and close can be adverbs.

Question 3

There’s a post office near here/nearby.

Answer 3

Nearby means ‘not far away’.

Question 4

We live (right) by the hospital. 
Come and sit by me.

Answer 4

The preposition “by” means ‘at the side of’ or ‘very near’.

Question 5

We live next to the fish and chip shop.
At dinner, I sat next to Mrs Armstrong.
At dinner, I sat beside Mrs Armstrong.

Answer 5

Next to means ‘directly at the side of’.