英语和汉语中的定语有很大的不同。汉语中定语只能前置，而英语中定语既可前置也可后置。两者的不同，不仅表现在结构上，也表现在意义上。
英语中的定语从句有时从原因、结果、目的或条件等方面对中心词加以限定。因此，在对语法结构、上下文逻辑关系深刻理解的前提下，为了更明确地表明这种逻辑关系，可以将定语从句翻译成相应的状语从句。同时值得注意的是，定语从句与中心词之间常有分割成分，而该分割成分中与定语从句紧挨着的名词，常常会被误认为定语从句的中心词。
因此，遇到这种结构，一定要根据上下文和常识进行判断。翻译定语从句时可采用提前译、顺序译、分译或转译等多种方法。
1. As far as the third factor is concerned,the history of science shows many instances in which the force of authority has operated in such a manner as to build up an exceedingly powerful resistance to further investigation;in some cases centuries elapsed before this resistance was eventually broken down,as happened in cosmology,for example.
第一层： As far as the third factor is concerned ,状语从句1 the history 主 of science 定 shows 谓 many 定 instances 宾 in which the force of authority has operated in such a manner as to build up an exceedingly power- 定语从句 ful resistance to further investigation ; in some cases 状 centuries 主 elapsed 谓 before this resistance was eventually broken down,as 状语从句2 happened in cosmology,for example.
第二层： （状语从句1） As far as 引 the third factor 主语 is 系 concerned 表语
（定语从句） in which 引 the force 主 of authority 定 has operated 谓 in such a manner as to build up an exceedingly powerful re- 状 sistance to further investigation
（状语从句2） before 引 this resistance 主 was 系 eventually 状 broken down, 表 as happened in cosmology，for example 定语从句
第三层： （定语从句） as 引 happened 谓 in cosmology,状 for example. 插入语
要点 本句由两个分句构成，以分号连接。第一个分句的主干为the history of science shows many instances，in which引导的定语从句修饰instances，such ……as ……表结果，后接不定式；在第二个分句中，before 引出时间状语从句：before this resistance was eventually broken down；代词as在此是关系代词，引出定语从句：as happened in cosmology。resistance：抵抗（力）；阻力。cosmology：宇宙论，宇宙哲学。
译文 至于第三个因素，科学史中有许多事例表明，权威的力量起到这样一种作用：它给进一步的研究设置了一道极其牢固的障碍；在许多情况下，要花上几个世纪的时间才能最终打破这道障碍。例如，在宇宙学中就发生过这样的事。
2. Behaviorists suggest that the child who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his or her capacity for appropriate responses will experience greater intellectual development.
第一层： Behaviorists 主 suggest 谓 that the child who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his 宾语从句 or her capacity for appropriate responses will experience greater intellectual development.
第二层： （宾语从句） that 引 the child 主 who is raised in an environment where there are many stimuli which develop his or her capacity 定语从句
for appropriate responses will experience 谓 greater intellectual 定 development. 宾
第三层： （定语从句） who 引 is raised 谓 in an environment 状 where there are many stimuli which develop his or her capacity for ap- 定语从句
propriate responses
第四层： （定语从句） where 引 there 引 are 系 many 定 stimuli 主 which develop his or her capacity for appropriate responses 定语从句
第五层： （定语从句） which 引 develop 谓 his or her 定 capacity 宾 for appropriate 定 responses
要点 根据上下文的逻辑关系可以看出，本句中suggest的词义不是propose,而是bring an idea into the mind,所以翻译为…的看法是。who引导的定语从句修饰child，根据上下文的语义关系，翻译成条件句；where引导的定语从句修饰 environment,用合译法译出；which引导的从句修饰stimuli,用分译法进行翻译。appropriate：适合的，相称的。
译文 行为主义者的看法是，如果一个儿童在有许多刺激因素的环境里长大，而这些刺激因素能够开发其相应的反映能力，那么这个儿童将会有更好的智力发展。
3. I suggest transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves into a humanist industrialism in which man and full development of his potentialities - those of love and of reason - are the aims of all social arrangements.
要点 本句为含有两个定语从句的主从复合句。主句的谓语动词suggest可接动名词作宾语。而宾语中的transform一词常用在transform sth. from …… into……结构中，译为“把…从…转变为…”。句中两个in which分别修饰其先行词industrialism，翻译时宜采用前置法。两个破折号之间的those of love and of reason为potentialities一词的同位语。
译文 我建议把我们的社会制度从以最大限度的生产和最大限度的消费为目的的官僚主义管理下的产业体制转变为一个充分发挥人的潜能――即爱和理智的潜能――为其全部社会工作之目的的人道主义产业体制。
