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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-Apr-2008, 07:16
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Default Which would be better?

Hi, everyone!

As for the following sentences, which one would be better to mean " The patient had a difficult operation yesterday"?

A: The patient went thorugh a difficult operation yesterday.
B: The patient underwent a difficult operation yesterday.

Thank you.

optimistic pessimist
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Old 07-Apr-2008, 07:30
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Smile Re: Which would be better?

Quote:
Originally Posted by optimistic pessimist View Post
Hi, everyone!

As for the following sentences, which one would be better to mean " The patient had a difficult operation yesterday"?

A: The patient went thorugh [through] a difficult operation yesterday.
B: The patient underwent a difficult operation yesterday.

Thank you.

optimistic pessimist
B sounds more fluid. However, one would be perfectly well understood if using the other option.
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Old 07-Apr-2008, 07:53
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Default Re: Which would be better?

'UNDERGO' (past tense 'underwent') has the meaning that one is subjected to something unpleasant. Compare the following, where we would not use "undergo/underwent":

She has been through a difficult time.
She went through some difficult times in her youth.
He went through a difficult time when his child took seriously ill.
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