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.来源：考试大
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。来源：考试大
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。
