My entire heart surgery appeared to last for only four hours.

[kohyoongliat]

My entire heart surgery appeared to last for only four hours.

Is the sentence fine? Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's grammatically correct.

 

[bhaisahab]

It's grammatically correct.

It is, but it's an awful sentence.

 

[kohyoongliat]

Thanks, Rover and bhaisahab.

How should the sentence be rephrased? Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks, Rover and bhaisahab.

How should the sentence be rephrased? Thanks.

"My heart surgery took only four hours."

 

[Raymott]

"My heart surgery took only four hours."

But that doesn't mean "appeared to take".
@OP: It is a bad sentence, since it doesn't say to whom it appeared that way. You were anaesthetised, so it didn't "appear" to you. Maybe "seemed to last only four hours" is possible, but that's still an unusual concept.

 

[kohyoongliat]

Thanks to all the members who have responded to my post. But doesn't appear mean seem?

The following is from Collins Cobuild Dictionary.

If you say that something appears to be the way you describe it, you are reporting what you believe or what you have been told, though you cannot be sure it is true.


There appears to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressive stance...
The aircraft appears to have crashed near Katmandu...
It appears that some missiles have been moved...
It appears unlikely that the UN would consider making such a move...
The presidency is beginning to appear a political irrelevance...
He appeared willing to reach an agreement.
= seem

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks to all the members who have responded to my post. But doesn't appear mean seem?

The following is from Collins Cobuild Dictionary.

If you say that something appears to be the way you describe it, you are reporting what you believe or what you have been told, though you cannot be sure it is true.


There appears to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressive stance...
The aircraft appears to have crashed near Katmandu...
It appears that some missiles have been moved...
It appears unlikely that the UN would consider making such a move...
The presidency is beginning to appear a political irrelevance...
He appeared willing to reach an agreement.
= seem

"My heart surgery appears to have taken only four hours." Here "appears" = "seems".

 

[Raymott]

Thanks to all the members who have responded to my post. But doesn't appear mean seem?

Not in this context when you're referring to yourself. But, as I implied, it depends on the meaning.
1. "It seems [to me] like I slept for hours." (Referring to a feeling you have)
2. "It appears like I slept for hours."
Only 1 is correct.

3. "I seem to remember her." Right "It seems that I remember her." Still right, but not good.
4. "I appear to remember her." Wrong "It appears that I remember her." Still wrong.

If you are referring to a situation that you have evidence for (eg. someone told you that slept for hours, or that your surgery took only four hours), then you can say "It appears that I slept for hours", or "Apparently, I slept for hours" which are better in this context than "It seems that I slept for hours".

 

[Tdol]

Thanks to all the members who have responded to my post. But doesn't appear mean seem?

You weren't conscious during the surgery, so seem/appear don't work- appeared to last 4 hours describes how long you thought it took, but you wouldn't have known this because you were unconscious. If you say It appears that my heart surgery only took four hours, it would be OK as you're reporting something you have learnt since waking up.