Difference between "そば", "となり" and "よこ"


While doing exercises, I am bit confused with "そば", "となり" and "よこ". Can anyone
explain me the difference between them. Is it so that "よこ" is used when the
object is at either left or right side of the subject. like 郵便局のよこに銀行があります。  
When does "そば" use then.




With "そば", you picture thing A that's nearby thing B. It is omni-directional
in the sense that it doesn't matter which way those two things are facing.
They just need to be close enough.

With "よこ", first picture a "そば" relationship but with an additional constraint
that two things are side ways --- this word is no longer omni-directional. So
for this to work, thing A has to have something that resembles a front (such
as a building), and relative to this front of thing A, this B is at the 90
degree direction. Or thing B going tangental to thing A (like one street
crossing another.)

With "となり", first picture a "よこ" relationship with an additional constraint
that two things are next to each other.

I hope that puts those three words in context.




With "そば", you picture thing A that's nearby thing B. It is omni-directional
in the sense that it doesn't matter which way those two things are facing.
They just need to be close enough.

With "よこ", first picture a "そば" relationship but with an additional constraint
that two things are side ways --- this word is no longer omni-directional. So
for this to work, thing A has to have something that resembles a front (such
as a building), and relative to this front of thing A, this B is at the 90
degree direction. Or thing B going tangental to thing A (like one street
crossing another.)

With "となり", first picture a "よこ" relationship with an additional constraint
that two things are next to each other.

I hope that puts those three words in context.

