En verano nos sentamos cerca de la fuente porque hace fresco.

En verano means in summer.

In Spanish, seasons are often used with en when you mean during that season:

• en verano = in summer
• en invierno = in winter

You may also hear este verano (this summer) or simply verano in some contexts, but en verano is the standard, clear way to say in summer.

Yes. The verb is sentarse, which is a reflexive verb meaning to sit down or, in many everyday contexts, simply to sit.

The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject:

• me siento = I sit down
• te sientas = you sit down
• se sienta = he/she sits down
• nos sentamos = we sit down / we sit
• os sentáis = you all sit down
• se sientan = they sit down

Here, nos matches we.

It can be either, because the nosotros form of the present and the preterite is the same for many -ar verbs.

So nos sentamos can mean:

• we sit down / we sit (present)
• we sat down (preterite)

Here, the context shows it is present habitual:

• En verano suggests a general repeated action
• hace fresco is in the present too

So in this sentence, nos sentamos means we sit or we sit down.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• nos sentamos already tells you it means we sit
• So nosotros is unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast

For example:

• En verano nos sentamos cerca de la fuente. = normal
• En verano nosotros nos sentamos cerca de la fuente. = more emphatic, like we sit near the fountain

Because cerca normally needs de before a noun or pronoun.

• cerca de la fuente = near the fountain
• cerca del parque = near the park
• cerca de mí = near me

So cerca de works as a fixed expression meaning near.

Because cerca de always uses de, not a.

• cerca de la fuente = near the fountain

Using a would be incorrect here. Think of cerca de as one unit:

• lejos de = far from
• cerca de = near

Here, fuente means fountain.

It can also mean source in other contexts:

• una fuente de agua = a water source
• una fuente histórica = a historical source

But in this sentence, because of nos sentamos cerca de la fuente, it clearly means a physical fountain.

Porque (one word, no accent) means because.

That is the form you use when giving a reason:

• Nos sentamos cerca de la fuente porque hace fresco.

By contrast:

• ¿Por qué...? = why...?
  • ¿Por qué os sentáis cerca de la fuente? = Why do you sit near the fountain?

So:

• porque = because
• por qué = why

Hace fresco is a very common Spanish weather expression meaning:

• it’s cool
• the weather is cool
• it feels cool

Spanish often uses hacer for weather and environmental conditions:

• hace calor = it’s hot
• hace frío = it’s cold
• hace sol = it’s sunny
• hace viento = it’s windy
• hace fresco = it’s cool / pleasantly cool

You do not translate it literally as it makes cool. It is just the normal Spanish structure.

Both can relate to temperature, but they are not the same.

• frío = cold
• fresco = cool, fresh, pleasantly not hot

So:

• hace frío = it’s cold
• hace fresco = it’s cool

In this sentence, hace fresco suggests a comfortable reason for sitting near the fountain in summer.

Yes, Spanish word order is flexible, but this order is the most natural and neutral.

The sentence is structured like this:

• En verano = time
• nos sentamos = verb
• cerca de la fuente = place
• porque hace fresco = reason

You could also say:

• Porque hace fresco, en verano nos sentamos cerca de la fuente.

That is grammatically correct, but it gives more emphasis to the reason. The original sentence sounds more natural in everyday speech.

It sounds like a general habit.

En verano often means during the summer / in summer in general, not one specific occasion. Combined with the present tense, it gives a habitual meaning:

• In summer, we sit near the fountain because it’s cool.

If you wanted one specific past event, Spanish would normally give clearer past context, for example:

• Ayer en verano... would not sound right
• More naturally: El verano pasado nos sentamos cerca de la fuente... = Last summer we sat near the fountain...

Yes, it sounds natural.

A speaker from Spain would understand it immediately, and all the grammar is standard:

• En verano = common seasonal phrase
• nos sentamos = natural with sentarse
• cerca de la fuente = normal place expression
• porque hace fresco = very common way to talk about temperature

Depending on style, someone might also say:

• En verano nos sentamos junto a la fuente... = In summer we sit next to/by the fountain...
• ...porque allí hace fresco. = ...because it’s cool there.

But the original sentence is perfectly good Spanish.