一、 英汉句子构句原则及其特点 1. 汉语
构句原则：
汉语根据事件的实际发生（时间/逻辑）顺序组织或构建话语（句群/长句）。先发生先表达后发生后表达，先因后果，等等。
句法特点：
自左至右音义语块（小句、词组）按事理逻辑线性铺陈，一个小句接一个小句，似断实连，层次不清（难分主次），句界模糊（语句结构开放、意尽为界）。
例1：
他原来在南方参加一项建筑工程，任务完成后上Georgia去度假，享受高加索的阳光，头一天才坐飞机回来。 不当翻译：
In the South he had been engaged in a construction job. After he completed the work he went to spend his vacation in Georgia. There he basked in Caucasia sun. And he had
flown in just the day before.
【意义主次不分、结构过于松散，不符合英
语书面语的特点】
比较：
He had flown in just the day before from Georgia where he had spent his vacation basking in Caucasia sun after the completion of the construction job in which he had been engaged in the South.
例2：我访问过一些地方，遇到不少人，要
谈起来，奇妙的事可多着呢。 不当翻译：
I visited some places and met many people. If I am asked to tell about them, there are many wonderful stories.
【结构过于松散，意义主次不明】 比较：
There are many wonderful stories to tell
about the places I visited and the people I met.
2. 英语
构句原则：
按照所要表达信息的重要性程度组织或构建复杂的句子或话语，主要信息占据主句框架，次要信息由从属连词（状语从句）、关系代词（定语从句）、关系副词（定语从句）、连接词（名词性从句）、非谓语动词、介词等添加补充。动作先后顺序由动词的时与体表示，不由在句中的先后位置表示。
句法特点：
以谓语动词为中心，以主谓（宾）为主干，向四周空间伸展，叠床架屋，空间搭架，似一枝繁叶茂的大树，树干、树枝、树叶间均有标记性环联结，环环相扣；谓语动词制前管后，句界封闭，主次分明。
例3：
Abraham Lincoln is the most famous instance of the claim that Americans often made that in their country a man may rise from the lowest to the highest position.
比较：
美国人经常声称，在他们国家一个人可以从最底层爬到最高层，林肯就最著名的例子。
例4：
In Africa I met a boy who was crying as if his heart would break and said that he was very hungry because had had no food for two days. 比较：
我在非洲遇到一小孩，他哭得伤心极了，说他非常饿，已两天没吃饭了。
二、英汉定语从句特点与功能
汉语：
定语从句位于被修饰词前面，起修饰或限定作用。由于汉语中前置修饰语一般不宜很长，所以汉语的定语从句使用频率较低。
英语：
定语从句位于被修饰词后，除了能起修饰、限定作用外，英语定语从句还能起到类似汉语中表示原因、目的、条件等小句的作用或者起衔接作用、提供背景/补充信息等，所以英语中定语从句的使用频率远远高于汉语。
（1）表修饰
We were surrounded by children who were all poorly dressed and apparently upset.
我们被一群孩子包围，他们个个衣着破旧、脸露沮丧。 （2）表限定
The leading actress whom you are