La escuela está en el bosque cercano.

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Breakdown of La escuela está en el bosque cercano.

• la escuela: the school
• estar: to be
• el: the
• el bosque: the forest
• cercano: nearby

Questions & Answers about La escuela está en el bosque cercano.

Why do we use está instead of es?

In Spanish, estar often refers to location or a temporary state, while ser is used for permanent characteristics or identities. Since we are indicating where the school is physically located, estar is correct here.

Why is the article el used before bosque?

In Spanish, bosque (forest) is a masculine noun, so we use the masculine singular article el. Determining gender in Spanish typically comes down to memorization and consistent use over time.

What is the difference between cercano and cercana?

In Spanish, adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe. Bosque is masculine, so the masculine singular form cercano is used. If we were talking about a feminine noun like escuela (which is also singular but feminine), we would say cercana.

Why is the adjective cercano placed after bosque?

Generally, descriptive adjectives in Spanish come after the noun. The word cercano describes the forest’s proximity, so it's typically placed after the noun bosque. Some adjectives may precede the noun, but in this case, it sounds more natural and standard to place it after.

Are there any special pronunciation tips for bosque cercano?

Pay particular attention to the s sounds: in standard peninsular Spanish, the s in bosque and cercano is pronounced clearly (like the English s sound). Also, be mindful of the open e in cercano, giving it enough emphasis to avoid blending it with the “r.”