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I have been told that the word 'surgery' is uncountable. If so why is it possible to say 'she had two knee surgeries', and not 'she had a knee surgery'?

Why is it wrong to use the article in the second?

Thanks.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI have been told that the word 'surgery' is uncountable.

False. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/surgery

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousI have been told that the word 'surgery' is uncountable.False. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/surgery CJ

Thanks CJ.

That was what I thought.

So are both 'she had knee surgery' and 'she had a knee surgery' correct?

If so, would the use of the article imply that she had a kind of surgery, and without it just the idea of the surgical procedure?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSo are both 'she had knee surgery' and 'she had a knee surgery' correct?

This is a matter of usage. The idiomatic form is without "a".

To have [body part] surgery is the idiom. For all practical purposes, this usage of 'surgery' may be considered uncountable, even though in general 'surgery' is countable. To communicate multiple surgeries, we typically say She had knee surgery [twice / three times / etc.], though She had [two / three] surgeries on her knee or She had [two / three] knee surgeries is not impossible.

AnonymousIf so, would the use of the article imply that she had a kind of surgery, and without it just the idea of the surgical procedure?

In view of the idiomatic nature of to have surgery, there is no practical way to express the kind of contrast you write about here, so no, the use of 'surgery' with or without 'a' does not draw that kind of contrast.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimThis is a matter of usage. The idiomatic form is without "a".

I see. So does that the form with ‘a’ is essentially correct but the idiomatic form is better and the common one?

CalifJimTo communicate multiple surgeries, we typically say She had knee surgery [twice / three times / etc.], though She had [two / three] surgeries on her knee or She had [two / three] knee surgeries is not impossible.

Yes, because I have seen many examples in the latter two forms. They kind of sound more natural to my ear!

CalifJimIn view of the idiomatic nature of to have surgery, there is no practical way to express the kind of contrast you write about here, so no, the use of 'surgery' with or without 'a' does not draw that kind of contrast.

So both essentially, with and without ‘a’, express the idea of undergoing surgery or the treatment involving the general procedure of surgery. Am I right?

Than that brings up one more question that may allow such expression. Would it be possible to say the following:
- She had a complicated knee surgery.
- She had a different/complicated kind of knee surgery.
- She had two different knee surgeries.

Thanks a lot in advance.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous‘a’ is essentially correct but the idiomatic form is better and the common one?

Yes. With "a" it's grammatically correct, but "grammatically correct" doesn't get you far in learning another language, as you know.

The following examples you wrote are all OK.

- She had a complicated knee surgery.
- She had a different/complicated kind of knee surgery.
- She had two different knee surgeries.

CJ

Clive · Answer

As far as I know, British people say
eg She had a knee operation.
That's what I say and usually hear here in Canada, too.

Clive.

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimYes. With "a" it's grammatically correct, but "grammatically correct" doesn't get you far in learning another language, as you know.

Yes, I understand that. I am going to use the form without ‘a’ but it is sometimes hard to remember the idiomatic phrases, and that was why I wanted to know if it is correct.

CalifJimThe following examples you wrote are all OK.

Great. Thanks.

Also is what I said in response to your explanation correct? "So both essentially, with and without ‘a’, express the idea of undergoing surgery or the treatment involving the general procedure of surgery. Am I right?"

Lastly, Clive mentioned below that he uses ‘a’ with the word ‘operation’ instead of ‘surgery’ in that sentence. Would his sentence also be correct without ‘a’, and do the same things we talked about apply to the word ‘operation’ instead of ‘surgery’ in that case? I am hoping “yes”!

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous"So both essentially, with and without ‘a’, express the idea of undergoing surgery or the treatment involving the general procedure of surgery. Am I right?"

Yes, provided you use "a" at all, which I have already recommended against.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous‘operation’ instead of ‘surgery’

They occur in a different distribution.

He had knee surgery. OK.
He had knee operation. No.
He had surgery on his knee. OK.
He had operation on his knee. No.
He had a surgery on his knee. ? Not so good.
He had an operation on his knee. OK.
He had two knee surgeries. OK.
He had two knee operations. OK.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CliveAs far as I know, British people say

Thanks for joining.

Cliveeg She had a knee operation.That's what I say and usually hear here in Canada, too.

Would the sentence also be correct without ‘a’ just like the use of ‘surgery’?

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