距離にある/がある/だ

[zuotengdazuo]

Hi. Could you please explain why にある is used here?
Can we also use 距離がある or 距離だ here?
Thank you.

 

[Toritoribe]

The meaning is the same, but the nuance is a bit different. 距離がある and 距離だ just express the distance between the two places, while 距離にある puts more focus on the location, how far it (= the school) is from the reference point (= his house).

 

[zuotengdazuo]

Thank you, toritorib-san. I see.