Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): El parque está entre la escuela y la biblioteca. - The park is between the school and the library.

Because Spanish uses estar to indicate location (and temporary states), whereas ser describes inherent characteristics, identity, origin, etc. Since we’re telling where the park is, we choose estar.

Why is the form está and not están?

Because el parque is a singular noun in third person. If we were talking about multiple parks (for example, los parques), we would say están.

Why do we have definite articles (el, la) before parque, escuela, and biblioteca? Can we drop them?

Spanish normally requires definite articles before nouns when referring to specific, known places or things. You can’t drop them here; you need el parque, la escuela and la biblioteca.

What does entre mean, and could I use a different expression?

Entre means between. Another option is en medio de la escuela y la biblioteca, but entre is shorter and more idiomatic for “between A and B.”

Can I put the location phrase first, like Entre la escuela y la biblioteca está el parque?

Yes. Spanish allows you to start with a prepositional phrase for emphasis. The meaning stays the same, though you draw more attention to the location by placing it at the front.

How would I express “between” if I’m talking about numbers instead of places?

With numbers you omit the articles. For example: entre 5 y 10 personas means “between 5 and 10 people.” But with nouns like escuela or biblioteca, you keep the articles.

Is there any special rule for using entre with more than two things?

When you list more than two items, you separate them with commas and keep the final y:
• entre A, B y C
You still use entre, but you don’t repeat it before each item.