El perro está junto a la casa.

the dog

Breakdown of El perro está junto a la casa.

• la casa: the house
• estar: to be
• junto a: next to

Questions & Answers about El perro está junto a la casa.

What does the phrase junto a mean in this sentence?

In this context, junto a means "next to" or "beside." It indicates that the dog is positioned immediately adjacent to the house.

Why is the verb estar used instead of ser in this sentence?

Estar is used to indicate temporary states or locations. In this sentence, it is used to show where the dog is located. Ser is typically reserved for inherent qualities or characteristics, which wouldn’t apply when simply describing the dog's position relative to the house.

What is the function of the definite articles el and la in El perro está junto a la casa?

The definite articles el (masculine) and la (feminine) are used to specify a particular noun. Here, el perro means “the dog” and la casa means “the house.” They also reflect the gender of the nouns, which is an important aspect of Spanish grammar.

Can junto a be replaced by other similar expressions in Spanish, such as al lado de?

Yes, al lado de is another common phrase that means "next to" or "beside." While both expressions are used to describe physical proximity, junto a sometimes emphasizes being directly adjacent, whereas al lado de tends to be more neutral. The choice between them can depend on personal preference or the context.

Is there any difference between using junto a and cerca de when describing location?

There is a slight nuance. Junto a implies immediate proximity—almost touching—whereas cerca de means "near" and can refer to something being within a short distance but not necessarily right beside it. In this sentence, junto a clearly emphasizes that the dog is immediately adjacent to the house.