I received messages from my friends.

from介词短语可能是状语，也可能是定语，取决于语境。例如：

如果这句话是对 What did you receive? 这个问题对回答，则介词短语为定语。

如果这句话是对What did you receive from your friends?这个问题对回答，则介词短语为来源状语。

I learned the skill from my teacher. 介词短语为来源状语。不可能是定语。