英汉两种语言句法结构的不同之处之正就是定语在句子中的位置。英语中，除一个或几个单独的形容词、名词或代词作定语一般放在所修饰的词前面外，大部分定语都是后置的，这个定语要么是短语，要么是从句；而汉语的定语一般都是前置，无论这个定语是词、短语还是句子，而且定语往往不是很长。所以，有的语言学家认为，汉语句子是左限制性，作定语的成分不能太长；而英语句子则是右开放性，右边可以有无数个定语从句。下面让我们来看一下几个英文句子及其译文：

（1）This is the cat.

这就是那只猫。

（2）This is the cat that killed the mouse.

这就是那只捕杀了老鼠的猫。

（3）This is the cat that killed the mouse that ate the cake,

这就是那只捕杀了偷吃了蛋糕的老鼠的猫。

（4）This is the cat that killed the mouse that ate the cake that was put on the table.

这就是那只捕杀了偷吃了放在桌上的蛋糕的老鼠的猫。

（5）This is the cat that killed the mouse that ate the cake that was put on the table that is standing in the kitchen.

这就是那只捕杀了偷吃了放在厨房的桌子上的蛋糕的老鼠 的猫。

（6）This is the cat that killed the mouse that ate the cake that was put on the table that is standing in the kitchen that is at the back of the house.

这就是那只捕杀了偷吃了放在房子后部的厨房的桌子上的蛋糕的老鼠的猫。