有时，定语从句并不紧跟在它所修饰的先行词之后，而却位于主句的谓语之后，定语从句跨越主句的谓语修饰主句的主语，这种定语从句可以称之为分裂式定语从句。这种定语从句也需要通过语法关系与逻辑意思进行判断，例如：

In recent years, many discoveries have been made which greatly facilitate the study of medicine,

[原译]近年来已经有了许多发现，这大大推动了医学的研究。

[改译]近年来，许多新的发现大大推动了医学的研究。

[说明]上句中关系代词which引导的定语从句并非说明整个主句， 因为从句的谓语动词facilitate不是单数，which所修饰的应该是主句的主语discoveries，所以是分裂式定语从句。

分裂式定语从句译例：

1. Glycogen is stored in the liver, which is released as needed in the form of glucose.

糖元贮存于肝脏，需要时能以葡萄糖的形式释出。

[说明]根据逻辑判断，定语从句不是修饰名词liver，关系代词which 也不是代表整个主句，而是修饰主句的主语glycogen。上句中的as needed 为时间状语，也可理解为省略成分it is的时间状语从句。

2. The drug has rapid onset and relatively short duration of action, thanks to which its effect can easily be regulated.

此药生效迅速，作用时间短暂，因此其功效易于调节。

[说明]上句中的关系代词which作介词thanks to的宾语，整个介词短语起结果状语作用。此句中的which只能根据逻辑判断它是代表整个主句的意思。

3. Cancer of the liver is also common in cases which begins as a cancer in one of the organs in the abdominal cavity.

肝癌以腹腔内某一器官的癌症为先导，这种情况也是常见的。

[说明] 根据语法关系和逻辑意思判断，定语从句不是修饰复数名词 cases，关系代词which也不代表整个主句，而是修饰主句的主语cancer。

4. Some hours or days later a cough develops, which is at first nonproductive but later is accompanied by mucopurulent sputum.