(no subject)

[stormdog]

There's a section in my Japanese work book about visiting someone's house. There are some blanks to fill in with compliments about Takahashi-san's house. One of them, I don't quite understand.

The house is close to the subway station. The answer in the back of the book to express this is:

えき　から　ちかい　です　ね。
(Eki) (kara) (chikai) (desu ne)
(station) (?) (close) (isn't it)?

I'm confused about から (kara) in this context. As a particle, I understand two uses. 'From', as in , I worked from 8 to 5, or 'because' as in I go there because the food is tasty. I don't quite see how either of those uses fits here.

I found kara in use in the same way here with a little Google search: http://www.japanese-online.com/lessons/Mem_JLL13_romaji.htm

ちかてつ　の　えき　から　ちかい　です　か。
Chikatetsu no eki kara chikai desu ka.
Is it near the train station?

I'll ask Nakamura Sensei about it on Thursday, but I thought I'd write about it here too.