Near Preposition Examples & Usage

The preposition near commonly means nearness or closeness in distance. It shows that something is close to, or not far from, another object, person, or place. For example, the sentence The store is near my building clearly indicates proximity between two locations. The word near is used to express a relationship of distance without specifying exact measurements. This section explains the meaning, usage, and examples of near preposition examples & usage in clear and practical terms.  

Meaning of Near as a Preposition

As a preposition, near indicates a short distance between two places, objects, or people. It is used when something is close enough to be easily reached, seen, or identified. The distance does not have to be measured precisely, as the emphasis is on relative closeness rather than exact location.

Example:

1. The school is near the park.
2. My father loves to sit near the fire at night.

3. He comes from a small place near Mumbai.

Also Read: Common List of Prepositions with Examples You Should Check

Grammatical Use of Near

After understanding the meaning of near as a preposition, it is important to see how it functions within a sentence. The way near is placed and used helps convey location clearly and naturally without confusion. To understand this better, the grammatical usage of near is explained below.

1. Used before a noun or pronoun to show closeness or a short distance.

Example: The library is near the classroom.

2. Commonly follows the main verb in sentences that describe location.

Example: They live near the college.

3. Used without to in modern English, as this form sounds more natural and fluent.

Example: The bus stop is near the school.

4. Can refer to people, places, or objects, not just physical locations.

Example: She sat near her friend.

5. Used in both statements and questions to express or ask about proximity.

Example: Is there a pharmacy near your office?

Near Preposition Examples in Sentences

Building on the grammatical rules explained above, the following examples show how near is used naturally in complete sentences to express location and proximity. To understand this better, here is a list of examples:

• The bus stop is near the school.
• She lives near the city centre.
• There is a grocery store near my house.
• The hotel is near the railway station.
• He sat near the window during the meeting.
• Our office is near the metro line.
• They found a café near the college campus.
• Is there a hospital near this area?

Difference Between Near vs Nearby vs Close To

After understanding how near works as a preposition, it is helpful to distinguish it from similar words that also express closeness. Although near, nearby, and close to convey a similar idea, their usage in sentences is different.

1. Near

Near is used as a preposition and is placed before a noun or pronoun to show proximity.

Examples for Near (Preposition):

• The school is near the park.
• She lives near the university.
• There is a café near my office.
• He sat near the door during the class.
• The hotel is near the airport.

2.  Nearby

Nearby functions as an adjective or an adverb and is not followed directly by a noun when used as an adverb.

Examples for Nearby (Adjective or Adverb)

• There is a nearby grocery store.
• A nearby hospital is open кругл clock.
• She found a nearby library for studying.
• The police station is nearby.
• Several restaurants are located nearby.

3. Close To

Close to is a prepositional phrase commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to show closeness.

Examples for Close To (Prepositional Phrase)

• The station is close to my house.
• His desk is close to the window.
• The office is close to the metro station.
• She stays close to her workplace.
• The museum is close to the city centre.

Also Read: Appropriate Preposition List with Examples & Practise Worksheet

Common Mistakes While Using Near

Even though near is a simple and commonly used preposition, learners often make small errors while using it in sentences. Understanding these mistakes helps improve accuracy and clarity.

1. Using unnecessary words with near

Incorrect: The mall is near to from my house.

Correct: The mall is near my house.

2. Using near to instead of near in modern English

Incorrect: The school is near to the park.

Correct: The school is near the park.

3. Placing near incorrectly in a sentence

Incorrect: Near the office she lives.

Correct: She lives near the office.

4. Using near without a noun or clear reference

Incorrect: The shop is near.

Correct: The shop is near the station.

5. Confusing near with nearby

Incorrect: The hospital is near restaurant.

Correct: The hospital is near the restaurant.

6. Using near with an unnecessary preposition

Incorrect: The office is near with the metro station.

Correct: The office is near the metro station.

7. Using near instead of nearby as an adjective

Incorrect: She visited a near restaurant.

Correct: She visited a nearby restaurant.

8. Using near without an article before a singular noun

Incorrect: The bank is near hospital.

Correct: The bank is near the hospital.

9. Using near incorrectly in a question

Incorrect: Is near the park your house?

Correct: Is your house near the park?

10. Using near where close to is more suitable

Incorrect: The deadline is near to Monday.

Correct: The deadline is close to Monday.

List of Practice Sentences Using Near 

After understanding the meaning, rules, examples, and common mistakes, practising sentences helps reinforce the correct usage of the preposition near. These practice sentences are designed to help learners confidently use near to describe location, proximity, and relationships between people, places, or objects. Reading and forming similar sentences will improve accuracy and fluency in everyday English.

Below are 50 practice sentences using near, written in simple and clear language.

1. The school is near my house.
2. She lives near the city centre.
3. There is a bank near the office.
4. The park is near the hospital.
5. He sat near the door.
6. The restaurant is near the highway.
7. Our classroom is near the library.
8. The hotel is near the airport.
9. They bought a flat near the beach.
10. The bus stop is near the market.
11. She stood near her friend.
12. The shop is near the metro station.
13. His desk is near the window.
14. The college is near the railway station.
15. We stayed near the old town.
16. The temple is near the river.
17. He parked his car near the gate.
18. The café is near the campus.
19. My house is near a playground.
20. The office is near the main road.
21. She works near her home.
22. The cinema is near the mall.
23. They live near their relatives.
24. The ATM is near the entrance.
25. The stadium is near the airport road.
26. He placed the chair near the table.
27. The clinic is near the bus stand.
28. We found a hotel near the station.
29. The police station is near the crossing.
30. She moved closer and sat near me.
31. The bookstore is near the university.
32. His seat was near the stage.
33. The garden is near the school building.
34. The petrol pump is near the highway.
35. They opened a shop near the corner.
36. The hostel is near the college campus.
37. She waited near the reception desk.
38. The apartment is near public transport.
39. He lives near his workplace.
40. The museum is near the city square.
41. The bakery is near my street.
42. We met near the bus terminal.
43. The factory is near the industrial area.
44. She kept her bag near the chair.
45. The zoo is near the botanical garden.
46. The school playground is near the canteen.
47. He stood near the exit.
48. The guest house is near the hill road.
49. The lecture hall is near the admin block.
50. They chose a house near the park.

Near Preposition Examples & Usage: Important Points

To use the preposition near correctly and confidently, it is helpful to remember a few key points. These rules summarise how near functions in sentences and how it should be applied in everyday English.

• Near shows closeness or a short distance, not an exact measurement.
• It is used before a noun or pronoun to indicate location or position.

• Near is commonly used without “to” in modern English.
• Near can describe people, places, or objects, not only locations.
• Near usually comes after the main verb in location-based sentences.
• Near should always have a clear reference, such as a place or object.
• Near and nearby are not interchangeable, as nearby works as an adjective or an adverb.
• Near is commonly used in both statements and questions to ask or describe proximity.
• Unnecessary prepositions should be avoided when using near.
• Near is suitable for both formal and informal English, making it widely usable.

Keeping the important regarding near prepostion and usage points in mind helps learners apply near preposition examples & usage accurately and naturally.

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