Questions & Answers about O mercado fica longe.
Fica is the third-person singular present of ficar, which here means “to be located” or “to end up.” You use ficar for the location of places or things:
• “O restaurante fica perto.” (The restaurant is nearby.)
Although you can say “O mercado está longe,” ficar is more idiomatic for fixed locations. You wouldn’t use é because ser describes essential traits, not location.
If you just state something is far, you can say ficar longe on its own. To specify from what it’s far, add de and often contract with the article:
• “O mercado fica longe do centro.” (far from the city center)
• “O mercado fica longe da estação.” (far from the station)
For “here” or “there” you say “longe daqui” (far from here) or “longe daí” (far from there).
Insert não before the verb:
• “O mercado não fica longe.”
This means “The market is not far.”
Keep the same word order and use rising intonation or question marks:
• “O mercado fica longe?”
For a more tentative tone, start with será que:
• “Será que o mercado fica longe?”
Place muito, bastante, or bem before longe:
• “O mercado fica muito longe.” (very far)
• “O mercado fica bastante longe.” (quite far)
• “O mercado fica bem longe.” (fairly far)
Or specify an actual distance:
• “O mercado fica a 5 quilómetros.” (The market is 5 kilometres away.)