Question

英语语法求救

_____East/east of the city_____ two middle schools.
A, In ,are B, /, are
本题说是考察倒装，方位短语放句首，后用倒装语序
那还原后是Two middle schools are east of the city
我的疑惑是： east of the city在句中做表语，这个结构怎么理解呢？
此时的east是做什么词性讲？

Answer 1

1. 解释正确无误。

2. east/west/south/north/southeast/southwest/northeast/northwest这八个表方位的单词，都有三种词性：名词/形容词/副词。

3. 如：Anhui Province lies in the east of China. （east名词）
= Anhui Province lies in East China. (east形容词)
= Anhui Province lies east of China. (east副词)

4. 所以此题中的east为副词，且此时east(副词) = in(或on/to) the east(名词).
即：Two middle schools are east of the city.
= Two middle schools are in/on/to the east of the city.

Answer 2

east在此处为副词，所以其前不能用介词。east of 在……东边/ 东面。意思很多，相当于in the east of，to the east of, on the east of.