El gimnasio está cerca de la estación.

to be

Breakdown of El gimnasio está cerca de la estación.

• la estación: the station
• cerca de: near
• el gimnasio: the gym

Questions & Answers about El gimnasio está cerca de la estación.

Why is está used instead of es in this sentence?

We use está because it indicates a temporary or changeable situation—here, the location of the gym—whereas es would denote a more permanent or inherent characteristic.

Is la estación feminine or masculine in Spanish?

Estación is a feminine noun in Spanish, which is why we say la estación instead of el estación.

How does cerca de work in this sentence?

Cerca de is a phrase meaning “near” or “close to.” It consists of cerca (“near”) + de (“of/from”), and it always goes together to indicate proximity.

Why do we say de la estación instead of del estación?

Because estación is feminine, we must use de la. If the noun were masculine and started with a consonant sound (e.g., el banco), it would become del (from de el).

Is gimnasio related to the English word “gymnastics”?

Yes, both come from Greek origins, but in Spanish, gimnasio specifically refers to the place where you exercise, while gimnasia refers to the sport of gymnastics.