Learn Hardcore Russian: Университет находится рядом с метро. - The university is located near the metro.

Находится translates as “is located” or “is situated.” The reflexive form is used to indicate a state or condition—specifically, that the university exists in a certain location. It’s a common construction in Russian for expressing where something can be found.

What does the phrase рядом с mean, and why is the preposition с used here?

The phrase рядом с means “next to” or “near.” The preposition с is used to link the noun that follows (in this case, метро) to the location being described. It expresses a spatial relationship indicating proximity.

Which case is expected after the preposition с, and why doesn’t метро change its form?

After the preposition с, the noun is normally in the instrumental case. Although метро should appear in the instrumental form, it is an indeclinable noun. This means its form remains the same regardless of the case, even though it still functions as an instrumental complement.

Why is находится used instead of a simple existential verb like есть?

Находится is specifically used to describe location. While есть simply indicates existence (“is”), находится emphasizes where something is situated. In this sentence, it makes clear that the university is physically located near the metro, which is more informative than a bare existence verb.