Question

麻烦解答一下，谢谢！

Nor, if regularity and conformity to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his papers would appear to reflect, is management to be blamed for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who work well with the team.
这里的in favor of一直到句末为什么不是修饰researchers 的定语呢？

Answer 1

单从句子结构上看，in favor of more conventional thinkers who work well with the team 的确可以作为后置定语来修饰 researchers。但是，如果你仔细读整个句子，你可以看出这个介词词组引导的短语实际上是作为方式状语补足 for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers 的。你可以从两个角度分析：

1. 语义：这整个介词短语结构实际上是对 discriminating against... 的补充说明

2. 语法：如果它修饰 researchers，这个前置词前面应该会用一个定冠词 the。