Close to means near something (close to the station) or emotionally close to someone: I'm close to my sister means the two of you have a strong bond. It can also mean almost or about: close to 200 people. Here close ends with an [s] sound, while the verb close, as in close the door, ends with a [z] sound.
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be close to + place/person; close to + number; come close to + -ing
- Our office is close to the station, so I usually walk to work.
- I'm very close to my older sister, and we talk almost every day.
- Close to 200 students signed up for the summer course this year.
What changed
First versionThe hotel was close from the beach, so we swam every morning.
RevisionThe hotel was close to the beach, so we swam every morning.
When you talk about distance, from can seem like the natural choice. But close goes with to: close to the beach. From belongs to its opposite, far: far from the beach.
Near also means a short distance away and needs no preposition: The hotel is near the beach. But only close describes relationships: I'm close to my sister means you have a strong bond. I'm near my sister only says that you're standing next to her.
Your turn
My grandparents live close ___ the park, so they walk there every morning.
Show the answer
to — Close goes with to: close to the park. From follows far, when you talk about a long distance, but here the grandparents live nearby.
Describe where you live. Say what your home is close to and how you make use of it.
My flat is close to a big park, so I go running there before work.
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