在赛达语法题中，流水句的问题非常难以辨别。因为流水句是汉语中特有的一类复合句，汉语句子的信息容量没有语法形式上的限制，弹性很大，一句接着一句。只需要用逗号连接，恰似流水，可以无限制地扩展下去。但英语句子有各种语法形式要求，不接受这种表达方式。因此受汉语的影响，类似的逗号使用错误和无标点句是中国学生英语写作中普遍出现的问题。以下是流水句的主要考试形式：

流水句考点小结

→流水句的典型结构：SVO, (adv.) SVO.

→流水句的变形结构：SVO, VO.

一、考点详解

1. 流水句的典型结构：SVO, (adv.) SVO.

简单来讲，流水句就是错误地将两个独立分句合写在一个句子里面，没有正确地用标点或连词加以分离。流水句本质上体现了英语中连词与分句的数量关系要求：即两个分句有且只有一个连词，三个分句有且只有两个连词，以此类推。只要把握住该原则，流水句的问题就不难被发现。

阅读以下例句，找出其中语法错误。

例句1：Many students fool around after school and on weekends, consequently they do not have much time for doing their homework.

例句1是由两个分句构成：第一个分句为Many students fool around after school and on weekends, 第二个分句为consequently they do not have much time for doing their homework. 两个分句之间没有任何连词，而使用逗号是不可以连接两个分句的。

阅读以下例句，找出其中语法错误。

例句2：My grandfather never learned to use a calculator, as he shops he can accurately compute his grocery bill in his head to within a dollar.

例句2是由三个分句构成：第一个分句为My grandfather never learned to use a calculator, 第二个分句为he shops, 第三个分句为he can accurately compute his grocery bill in his head to within a dollar. 而连接三个分句中只有一个连词as，不符合连词与分句的数量关系要求。

2. 流水句的变形结构：SVO, VO.

以上两个流水句的形式用句子结构分析方法可以抽象为SVO, (adv.) SVO(例句1); SVO, conj. SVO SVO.(例句2)，这类句子都是典型的流水句结构。除了上述流水句结构之外，还会出现下面这种变形情况。

阅读以下例句，找出其中语法错误。

例句3：The beaver is the largest rodent in North America, has a large, flat, nearly hairless tail, webbed hind feet, and short front legs with hairy claws.

例句3是由一个完整分句The beaver is the largest rodent in North America, 一个不完整分句(缺少主语)large, flat, nearly hairless tail, webbed hind feet, and short front legs with hairy claws构成，即SVO, VO.结构，该结构依然是流水句。

在赛达语法考题中，处理流水句，一般会采取以下几种方法：

①逗号变为句号，两分句独立成完整的句子。

②逗号后用并列连词连接两分句

③变逗号为分号(可以使用连接副词体现逻辑关系，如：therefore, thus, however furthermore, nevertheless)

④主要分句作主句，其它分句变成从属结构(从句或词组，强调主句所表达的意义，弱化从属结构所表达的意义)

二、真题在现

1. The beaver is the largest rodent in North America, it has a large, flat, nearly hairless tail, webbed hind feet, and short front legs with hairy claws.

A) The beaver is the largest rodent in North America, it

B) The beaver being the largest rodent in North America, it

C) The beaver, the largest rodent in North America, which

D) The largest rodent in North America, the beaver

E) The largest rodents in North America, the beaver

解析：两个分句形成了典型的SVO, SVO流水句结构，选项中选择正确的改正方式即可。

2. The vice president of the United States is also the president of the Senate, the vice president is not a senator and does not vote on Senate matters except to break a tie.

A) the vice president is not

B) the vice president, who is not

C) however, the vice president, not being

D) although the vice president is not

E) and the vice president, who is not

解析：两个分句形成了典型的SVO, SVO流水句结构，选项中选择正确的改正方式即可。

3. The first 10,000 United States patents, they were known as the X-patents, were burned in a fire in 1836.

A) they were known

B) which they knew

C) which they know

D) to be known

E) known

解析：该题的句子结构是S, SVO, VO, 这样的句子结构容易与插入语相混淆。如果插入的句子是完整的，且把它放到句首或句尾时，与另外一个句子形成流水句，那么在语法上该插入语就是错误的。

4. A cure for some kinds of cancer, scientists believe, may be found within the next decade.

A) scientists believe, may be

B) scientists believe they may be

C) being maybe, in the belief of some scientists,

D) there are some scientists who believed it may be

E) which, some scientists believe, may be

解析：该题的句子结构看似和上题相同，都是S, SVO, VO结构，但如果把句子中的插入部分放到句首在进行考察，就会发现这是一个主从复合句主句+宾语从句scientists believe a cure for some kinds of cancer may be found within the next decade.

5. Americans vote for an electoral college, not a president, since such is the case, a candidate can win the popular vote but still lose the election.

A) since such is the case, a candidate can win the popular vote but still lose the election.

B) and a candidate can win the popular vote but still lose the election because of that.

C) a candidate can win the popular vote but still lose the election as a result.

D) a candidate can win the popular vote but still lose the election for this reason.

E) so a candidate can win the popular vote but still lose the election.

解析：三个分句，却只有一个连词since，流水句结构。

6. As a result of budget cuts, the libraries were forced to reduce hours, this cutback is what many avid readers had campaigned against.

A) this cutback is what many avid readers had campaigned against.

B) because many avid readers had campaigned against this cutback.

C) the campaign many avid readers had was against this cut back.

D) a cutback many avid readers had campaigned against.

E) the cutback was campaigned against by many avid readers.

解析：两个分句无连词，As a result of为介词短语。

7. My grandfather never learned to use a calculator, as he shops he can accurately compute his grocery bill in his head to within a dollar.

(A) as he shops

(B) while shopping

(C) but as he shops

(D) therefore, when shopping

(E) however, he shops so tha

解析：三个分句，却只有一个连词as，流水句结构。

8. Tickets are available at the box office they can be picked up one hour before the performance.

(A) at the box office they can be picked up one hour before the performance

(B) at the box office; they can be picked up one hour before the performance

(C) one hour before the performance, they can be picked up at the box office

(D) and that can be picked up at the box office one hour before the performance

(E) at the box office, one hour before the performance is when they can be picked up

解析：两个分句无连词，形成典型的流水句结构SVOSVO(注意：该句中间无逗号)。

9. After 1907, residents of the Omaha Reservation could use the hospital in Walthill, Nebraska, it was established by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, an Omaha Indian.

(A) hospital in Walthill, Nebraska, it was established by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, an Omaha Indian

(B) hospital; it was in Walthill, Nebraska and established by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, an Omaha Indian

(C) hospital that has been established by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, an Omaha Indian, in Walthill, Nebraska

(D) Walthill, Nebraska, hospital where an Omaha Indian, Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, established it

(E) hospital established in Walthill, Nebraska, by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, an Omaha Indian

解析：两个分句无连词，形成典型的流水句结构SVO，SVO。

10. Many psychologists do not use hypnosis in their practices, it is because they know very little about it and are wary of it as a result.

(A) practices, it is because they know very little about it and are wary of it as a result

(B) practices because they know very little about it and are therefore wary of it

(C) practices for the reason that they know very little about it, with resulting wariness

(D) practices because of knowing very little about it and therefore they are wary of it

(E) practices, their knowledge of it being very little results in wariness of it

解析：两个分句无连词，形成典型的流水句结构SVO，SVO。

三、难点讲解

流水句的难点在于连接副词和连词的区别：在英语中，有很多连接副词，如however, therefore，它们只能在意义和逻辑上连接两个分句，而不能在语法上连接分句，所以需要对容易混淆的连接副词和连词重点掌握。

1. 连词概览

→并列连词：

1) 表示意义转折和对比的并列连词：常见的有but , while, whereas, yet等。

2) 表示选择的并列连词：常见的有or, whether...or, neither...nor, either...or, otherwise 等。

3) 表示因果意义的并列并列连词：常见的有 for, so等。

4) 表示承接关系的并列连词：常见的有and, both...and, not only... but also等。

→从属连词：

1) 表示时间的从属连词，主要有 when, while, as, whenever, before, after, since, until, till, as soon as, the moment, the minute, the second, the instant, immediately, directly, instantly, once, no sooner…than, hardly…when (一…就…)

2) 表示条件状语从句的从属连词，主要有if, unless, as [so] long as, in case

3) 表示目的状语从句的从属连词，主要有in order that, so that, in case, for fear that

4) 表示结果状语从句的从属连词，主要有so that, so…that, such…that

5) 表示原因状语从句的从属连词，主要有because, as, since, seeing that, now that, considering that

6) 表示让步状语从句的从属连词，主要有although, though, even though, even if, while, however, whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever

7) 表示方式状语从句的从属连词，主要有as, like, as if, as though, the way

8) 表示地点状语从句的从属连词，主要有where, wherever, everywhere

9) 表示比较状语从句的从属连词，主要有than和as…as

10) 表示名词性从句的从属连词，主要有that, if, whether/以及各种疑问词

2. 连接副词和介词短语概览

1) 表递进moreover, in addition, additionally, furthermore, also, then, besides

2) 表转折however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, yet

3) 表强调in fact, indeed, actually, as a matter of fact, obviously, apparently

4) 表结果evidently, undoubtedly, therefore, thus, hence, so, as a result, consequently, accordingly

5) 表比较similarly, likewise, in the same way, in the same manner, equally

6) 表对比by contrast, on the contrary, instead, otherwise, in contrast.

7) 表列举for example, for instance, such as

8) 表时间later, next, then, finally, at last, eventually, meanwhile, from now on, at the same time, for the time being, in the end, in the meantime, in the meanwhile, recently, soon, now and then, nowadays, lately, afterwards, temporarily, earlier, now

四、难题专练

1. In their zeal to make beachfront living widely available, developers have overbuilt, thereby they endanger fragile coastlines.

(A) overbuilt, thereby they endanger fragile coastlines

(B) overbuilt they endanger fragile coastlines as a result

(C) overbuilt and thereby have endangered fragile coastlines

(D) overbuilt; fragile coastlines endangered thereby

(E) overbuilt, the fragile coastlines are endangered by this

解析：该题中两分句之间的thereby是一个连接副词，不可以在语法上连接两个分句。

2. The fruit fly is often used to study genetic mechanisms, because it reproduces rapidly scientists can observe the effects of experiments on several generations.

(A) mechanisms, because it reproduces rapidly

(B) mechanisms, since it reproduces rapidly,

(C) mechanisms, since, with its rapid reproduction,

(D) mechanisms; because it reproduces rapidly,

(E) mechanisms; then rapid reproduction allows

解析：该题中是由三个分句组成，但三句之间只有一个连词because。

3. When (A) the Spanish conquistadors reached Peru in 1532, they encountered (B) the vast empire of the Incas, it extended (C) along the Pacific coast of South America from modern Ecuador to central Chile and inland (D) across the Andes. No error (E)

解析：该题中是由三个分句组成，但三句之间只有一个连词when。

4. When, after bleak and lonely years in an English public school, he returned to India, there was suddenly perceived by himself a strong desire to write about the people and land he loved.

(A) there was suddenly perceived by himself

(B) he suddenly was perceived

(C) suddenly the feeling that came to him being

(D) he suddenly felt

(E) suddenly he had the feeling of

解析：该题中是由三个分句组成，三句之中有出现了两个连词when和after, 并没有流水句的问题。

5. Intimacy, love, and marriage are three different, if interrelated, subjects.

(A) different, if interrelated, subjects.

(B) interrelated subjects, being, however, different

(C) different subjects, whereas they are interrelated

(D) different subjects when interrelated

(E) subjects that are different although being interrelated

解析：该题中是由两个分句组成，两句之中有出现了一个连词if, 形式为插入语，并没有流水句的问题。