is surprised at vs is surprised with

Both 'is surprised at' and 'is surprised with' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Is surprised at' is used to indicate the cause of the surprise, while 'is surprised with' is used to indicate the object of the surprise.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1094 views

Correct. 'Is surprised at' is used to indicate the cause of the surprise.

"is surprised at"

This phrase is used to express the reason or cause of someone's surprise. For example, 'She was surprised at the news of her promotion.'

Examples:

He was surprised at the sudden change in weather.
She was surprised at the results of the experiment.
They were surprised at the amount of work required.
I was surprised at how quickly he finished the project.
The students were surprised at the difficulty of the test.

Show examples from the web [+]

Is surprised at the amount of time taken to investigate the possible mismanagement of ESF funding in Madrid; encourages the Commission to bring the case to a close as soon as possible, and to clarify the entire situation in an unambiguous way;
Is surprised at the amount of time taken to investigate the possible mismanagement of European Social Fund funding in Madrid; encourages the Commission to bring the case to a close as soon as possible, and to clarify the entire situation in an unambiguous way;
is surprised at the priorities selected in the action plan and would like them to be ordered and presented in rank of importance;
Is surprised at the lack of any explicit reference to cultural issues in the Commission communication; adds that such issues cannot come down only to entrepreneurship and the use of new technologies;
Is surprised at the rather complex presentation of the report, which varies in density depending on the version concerned; would have appreciated a more systematic and more critical review;
Is surprised at the lack of any reference to fraud against the Community budget; in particular would wish to learn why no reference was made to the idea of some kind of a European Public Prosecutor whose role would be confined to fraud against the Community budget;
Similarly, the CNCDH is surprised at the work being done to transpose restrictive concepts contained in directives, which have not even been adopted by the EU Council.
On deck, the crew is surprised at what they see.
The Polish public is surprised at the report's findings and is treating it as a document which is anything but objective.
In Denmark, no one is surprised at the fact that Mr Bonde is now conducting a campaign against the new has conducted campaigns against all the treaties.
Is surprised at the indignation aroused by the publication of photographs taken at the American base at Guantanamo;
Is surprised at the decision of the Court of Justice of last July endorsing the general principle of banning vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease;
Is surprised at the EIB's statement in which it found that no fraudulent practice exists in the context of EIB Investment Facility programmes;
Is surprised at the text of the conclusions, which remains silent about the resounding failure of the euro, which has lost a quarter of its value in a few months, and about the absurd nature of the policy pursued by the European Central Bank;
is surprised at the strategy paper's failure to bring quality management into the discussion of health and safety at work, or indeed to take up the issue at all;
is surprised at the European Commission's almost complete failure to take account of recent developments in the most attractive EU cultural project - the European Capital of Culture scheme - to which it would appear to attach no strategic importance.
Is surprised at the rather complex presentation of the report, which varies in density depending on the version concerned; would have appreciated a more systematic and more critical review;

Alternatives:

was amazed by
was shocked by
was taken aback by
was astonished by
was dumbfounded by

Correct. 'Is surprised with' is used to indicate the object of the surprise.

"is surprised with"

This phrase is used to express what or who is causing the surprise. For example, 'She was surprised with a gift from her friend.'

Examples:

He was surprised with a birthday party.
She was surprised with the news of her promotion.
They were surprised with the results of the competition.
I was surprised with the delicious meal.
The students were surprised with the new equipment in the lab.

Show examples from the web [+]

I think you might be surprised with what I can accomplish.
You will understand, Madam President, that I am pleasantly surprised with these pledges.
John Densmore is surprised to hear from him.
Not one of you is surprised to see me.
When she is surprised, the heart blasts.
And once again the West is surprised, on three accounts.
Your castle is surprised, your wife and babes slaughtered.
I'll think you'll be surprised with what these hands can do.
Be surprised with the hype generated when a guy dressed as superhero plummets from her balcony.
But you had been surprised with the all will be strong.
I'm surprised with your security clearance they missed something like that.
Most of all, I was just surprised with what I was finding.
The local population and some 40000 persons who visit Schrobenhausen each year for the asparagus season are constantly surprised with ever more creative recipes.
"I was pretty surprised with the amount of IT tools used," said Nuno Sousa Lopes, a trainee from Portugal.
When this parliamentary term began we, the new Members, were surprised with Parliament's building policy at that stage.
In this regard, our committee is surprised that the communication makes no reference to the multiannual programme for enterprises, which would be a natural starting point.
Similarly, the CNCDH is surprised at the work being done to transpose restrictive concepts contained in directives, which have not even been adopted by the EU Council.
In this context, the Committee is surprised that the Communication makes no reference to tax relief designed to help the formation of capital for new companies.
On deck, the crew is surprised at what they see.
But if your suspect is surprised for more than a second, he's faking it.

Alternatives:

was presented with
was gifted with
was given
was provided with
was bestowed with

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is surprised at vs is surprised with

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