1) 限定性定语从句:
形式上,从句与被修饰的名词之间通常没有标点符号相隔;
意义上,从句是先行词不可缺少的定语,如果去掉,会造成先行词指代不明或主句的意义不完整。主句和从句关系十分密切。
① I still remember the days when I was in hospital and you looked after me very well.
我还记得住院的那些日子,你把我照料得很好。
2) 非限定性定语从句:在形式上,从句与被修饰的名词之间必须用逗号隔开;在意义上,从句只是意义上的进一步补充和说明,并不影响被修饰名词的性质界定。缺少该从句,先行词依然性质确定。非限定性定语从句可以修饰先行词,也可以修饰整个主句。
① We walked down the village street, where villagers were having market day.
我们沿着村里的大街向前走去,村民们正在那里赶集。
② He studied hard at school when he was young, which contributes to his success in later life.
他年轻时在学校里学习努力,这对他后来的成功起到了促进作用。