同位语是用来进ー步解释名词或代词的，同位语可以是单词、短语也可以是从句。同位语从句一般由that引导，但也可以用关系代词what, which, who, 关系副词 when, where, why, how或whether，if引导。同位语从句常常解释和说明的名词主要有 fact, thought, theory，idea, hope, news, doubt, conclusion, question, problem, evidence, certainty, belief, rumor, mystery, suggestion, order, answer, decision, discovery, explanation, information, knowledge, law, opinion, principle, truth, promise, report, statement, message, saying, rule等。同位语从句的译法主要有以下几种情況。

1. 译成独立句

有时可以把同位语从句译为ー个独立的句子，这时其前可以增译“即”字，或采用冒号或破折号。较长的同位语从句汉译时常常采用此法。如： 

* Einstein came to the conclusion that the maximum speed possible in the universe is that of light.

爱因斯坦得出这样的结论.即宇宙中的最大速度是光速。

* We come to the conclusion that recognizable differences exist today between marine and nonmarine forms.

我们所得出的结论是：在今天，海洋生物的形态和非海洋生物的形态之间存在着明显的差别。

* Copernicus challenged what had until then been the most natural of ideas: that our Earth was the center of the universe.

哥白尼向直到那时被认为是最天经地义的观念——地球处于宇宙中心——提出挑战。

有时为了修辞需要，也可以把同位语从句译成独立的句子，置于句首。如：