Usage Adverb and Preposition (The hotel is near the airport.)

[Hanifasmm]

Hi everybody,
'near' can be adverb or preposition.
I want some examples using near as adverb and also
some examples as preposition.
The following two sentences are using the word - 'near'.
1. Don't come too near me - you might catch my cold.
2. The hotel is near the airport.
Please mark which one is preposition and
which one is adverb?
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Mister Micawber]

Which do you think is which, Mr Hanifa?
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Hanifasmm]

Mister Micawber,
In the 1st sentence, 'near' comes after the verb -'come'.
So it may be adverb.
In the second setence, 'near' comes after the linking verb - is.
So it may be preposition.
Am I right?
Please comment.
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Mister Micawber]

Yes, I agree, but I don't think that is the reason precisely, because prepositions can also follow action verbs: He sat near the fire.

As a matter of fact, when a noun is also present, I think it can often be arguable as to whether 'near' is an adverb or a preposition. Clearly, this is an adverb, however: He came near and whispered something.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Hanifasmm]

Mister Micawber,
1. Don't come too near me - you might catch my cold.
As per your logic, near appears before the pronoun - me, it should be preposition.
Am I not correct?
Thanks,
Er.S.M.M.Hanifa

[Mister Micawber]

Well now, that's the arguability I'm talking about. The sentence can be considered as hiding another preposition: 'Don't come too near [to] me'.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's