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Reegis Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

What articles: heart attack and surgery

Please let's have a look at the statement below:

Let's move on to the next topic which is cardiology. We all know that the shorter the lapse of time between the heart attack and the by-pass surgery, the better the chance of patient survival.

Is it correct?

Especially I am interested in the following issues:

a) Is it fine to put the before next topic (because it is identified by information after it)?
b) Should there be the or a before heart attack and by-pass surgery? Here I am confused, because on the one hand this sentence is general, but on the other hand we are not talking about completely unrelated events. For example we do not mean heart attack of John and by-pass surgery of Tom.
c) Shouldn't there be patient's survival?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

a) "the next topic" is fine, but not for the reason you state. It is a natural phrasing that does not depend on what follows. b) "a heart attack" would work there, and, as far as can be told without seeing more prior context, would be more usual.

— GPY

  • a) "the next topic" is fine, but not for the reason you state.
  • It is a natural phrasing that does not depend on what follows.
  • b) "a heart attack" would work there, and, as far as can be told without seeing more prior context, would be more usual.
  • "a bypass surgery" is not right (or at least not usual).
  • This is because "surgery" is normally uncountable.
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10 Answers
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a) "the next topic" is fine, but not for the reason you state. It is a natural phrasing that does not depend on what follows.

b) "a heart attack" would work there, and, as far as can be told without seeing more prior context, would be more usual. "a bypass surgery" is not right (or at least not usual). This is because "surgery" is normally uncountable.

"bypass" is normally one wo
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You need "the" before "next topic" because it is a particular singular noun. The sentences are correct. It is okay to use a noun before another noun as a modifier. If you say "patient's," you'll need to say, "the patient's survival," but it is okay as it is.
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It doesn't sound natural to ask, "Is it fine to put the before next topic?" Ask if it is okay, correct, right, o
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OK, I will stop using fine in such contexts and remember that bypass is one word, thanks for advice.

I am aware that in general we can use a noun before another noun as a modifier, but as far as I know, this is not true for every case. I just wasn't sure if it fits here.

Let me make sure if I got you both right:
a) patient survival - there is no article h
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ReegisLet me make sure if I got you both right:a) patient survival - there is no article here because survival is uncountable and patient works as an adjective here?b) the patient's survival - here we have an article because patient is countable and we have the instead of a because the previous mention identifies this patient?
a) Yes. "patient" is an attributi
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Thanks a lot, now it is completely clear.
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darftsman par suggestions"
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The object is "patient survival". Another way to phrase this could be "the patient's survival"(singular, with the ownership semi-colon no longer being considered necessary), "the patients' survival"(many patients) or " a patient's survival"(singular).

[sighs] The English language - ever-bastardized. -My two shillings.
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Anonymous "the patient's survival"(singular, with the ownership semi-colon no longer being considered necessary), (...) or " a patient's survival"(singular).
Would both mean the same in this context?
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Especially I am interested in the following issues: Emotion: no

Don't end a sentence with a colon!
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AnonymousEspecially I am interested in the following issues: Don't end a sentence with a colon!
I don't agree that there is any problem with this use of a colon.
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