How to Use "Essere vicino a": Meaning and Practical Examples

If you are learning Italian, you have surely come across expressions that seem simple but hide more than one meaning. Today we focus on one of these: "Essere vicino a". Many students wonder how exactly this verbal expression is used. Whether it is to express physical closeness or emotional support, understanding "Essere vicino a" is essential for natural speech. In this article, we will explore its meaning, grammatical structure, practical examples, and common mistakes to avoid, to improve your practical Italian vocabulary and communicate in Italian with more confidence.

Table of Contents

• What does “Essere vicino a” mean?
• The Grammatical Structure: How Is It Used?
• Sentences and Examples with “Essere vicino a”
• Crucial Differences: Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Similar or Related Expressions
• Conclusion

More: Essere legato a Meaning and Practical Examples to Improve Your Italian

What does “Essere vicino a” mean?

• Literal Meaning: To be at a short physical distance from something or someone.
  • Esempio: "Il supermercato è vicino a casa mia."
• Figurative Meaning: To offer support, help, or understanding to someone in a moment of difficulty; or to be close to achieving a goal or event.
  • Esempio: "Sono vicino a te in questo momento difficile."
  • Esempio: "Siamo vicini a completare il progetto."

More: Essere iscritto a Explained with Examples for Better Italian Skills

The Grammatical Structure: How Is It Used?

The basic structure of "Essere vicino a" is:

[Subject] + essere (conjugated) + vicino/a/i/e + a + [Noun/Pronoun/Infinitive]

The adjective "vicino" (or "vicina", "vicini", "vicine") always agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. For example, we say "La biblioteca è vicina" (singular feminine) or "I parchi sono vicini" (plural masculine). The preposition "a" is a crucial and mandatory element in this expression. It introduces the complement that indicates what or who one is close to. This can be a noun (e.g., "vicino a casa", "vicino agli amici") or even an infinitive verb, to express proximity to an action or event (e.g., "vicino a partire", "vicino a finire"). It is essential not to omit it, because its absence completely changes the meaning or makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. For example, you do not say "Sono vicino casa", but always "Sono vicino a casa".

Sentences and Examples with “Essere vicino a”

Here are some practical examples to understand how to use "Essere vicino a" in different situations:

📍 Family

Persona A: "Mamma, dove hai messo le chiavi?"

Persona B: "Sono vicine al telefono, sul tavolino."

📍 Work

Persona A: "Siamo vicini alla scadenza del progetto, dobbiamo accelerare."

Persona B: "Lo so, manca poco per completare tutto."

📍 Friendship / Support

Persona A: "Mi sento un po' giù ultimamente."

Persona B: "Ricorda che sono sempre vicina a te se hai bisogno di parlare."

📍 Time / Events

Persona A: "Quando è il tuo compleanno?"

Persona B: "È vicino a Natale, il 22 dicembre."

📍 Decisions / Goals

Persona A: "Hai già deciso cosa fare dopo la laurea?"

Persona B: "Sono vicina a prendere una decisione importante sulla mia carriera."

Crucial Differences: Common Mistakes to Avoid

A common mistake is to confuse the use of "vicino" as an adjective with "vicino" as an adverb, or to omit the preposition "a".

• "Vicino" (Adjective) + a + [Noun] Vs. "Vicino" (Adverb) alone

  • "Essere vicino a" (Adjective): Indicates a specific proximity relationship with something or someone and always requires the preposition "a". It will agree in gender and number with the subject.
    • Correct Example: "La scuola è vicina alla stazione." (The school is close to something specific)
    • Correct Example: "Sono vicina a lui." (I am close to him as a person)
  • "Vicino" (Adverb): Used to indicate a nearby position in general, without specifying to what or whom. It does not take the preposition "a" and does not agree. In this case, "vicino" is invariable.
    • Correct Example: "La macchina è parcheggiata vicino." (The car is parked in a place not far away, without specifying "to what")
    • Incorrect Example: "La macchina è parcheggiata vicino alla."
    • Incorrect Example: "La scuola è vicino stazione."
    • When you do not have a direct complement, "vicino" functions as an adverb of place.

• "Essere vicino a" Vs. "Essere nelle vicinanze (di)"

  • "Essere vicino a": As we have seen, expresses direct proximity, whether physical, emotional, or temporal toward a specific point, person, or event. It is more common and versatile.
    • Esempio: "Il mio ufficio è vicino al centro."
    • Esempio: "Sono vicino a te in questo momento."
  • "Essere nelle vicinanze (di)": Similar in meaning for physical proximity, but sounds slightly more formal or less direct, indicating a general area of closeness. Often used for places.
    • Esempio: "C'è un buon ristorante nelle vicinanze (dell'hotel)."
    • Esempio: "Hanno trovato l'auto nelle vicinanze del bosco." It is not used for emotional support or closeness to a goal.

Remember that if there is a specific place or indirect object complement, you will almost always need "a" or an articulated preposition. To learn more about the use of Italian prepositions, you can consult resources such as the page on simple and articulated prepositions on Treccani.

Similar or Related Expressions

Conclusion

"Essere vicino a" is a versatile phrasal verb, useful for expressing both physical proximity and emotional support, or closeness to a goal. Always remember the agreement and the use of the preposition "a" to master it at its best.

Now it’s your turn! Try writing a sentence using "Essere vicino a" in the comments below. What is a place or a person you feel "vicino" to?