This came as a surprise for them vs This came as a surprise to them

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'This came as a surprise for them' is less common and may sound awkward to some native speakers. 'This came as a surprise to them' is the more commonly used and accepted phrase.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 2312 views

This phrase is grammatically correct but less commonly used in English. It may sound awkward to some native speakers.

"This came as a surprise for them"

This phrase can be used to indicate that something was unexpected for a particular group of people. However, 'for them' is less commonly used in this context.

Show examples from the web [+]

It came as a surprise for me.
I can't say any of this came as a surprise to me.
I can't say any of this came as a surprise to me.
The letter came as a surprise.
...because it came as a surprise to us too.
It came as a surprise... watched a Formula 1 race in his life.
Which came as a surprise to everyone.
The letter came as a surprise.
The results came as a surprise to many people.
However, the vital point is not that the public are now paying excessively high charges, but the fact that this came as a surprise.
The effects of Lehman and AIG in September... still came as a surprise.
That's why Anibal's death came as a surprise to me and my partner.
And that came as a surprise to me, because I was actually hired to work on quantum computation.
This decision, taken by the Council, came as a surprise not only to us, but also to the national parliaments.
Chief Aiello, moving policemen into the factory came as a surprise.
However, I believe that the extent and intensity of the terror carried out came as a surprise to all the observers.
Mr President, it came as a surprise to me as well that this debate was being squeezed in today.
Although the metal industry is generally subject to cyclical fluctuations, the speed and intensity of the decline provoked by the crisis was not foreseeable and came as a surprise for the sector.
The Irish themselves, their national parliament, debated in a subcommittee the reasons why there was a 'no' vote - because this came as a surprise to many there.
They emphasised that the decision to open a formal investigation came as a surprise to the companies since Liechtenstein's tax regime had been adopted more than 10 years ago.

Alternatives:

this came as a surprise to them

This phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express that something was unexpected for a specific group of people.

"This came as a surprise to them"

This phrase is the more commonly used form to indicate that something was surprising for a particular group of people. 'To them' is the standard preposition used in this context.

Show examples from the web [+]

I can't say any of this came as a surprise to me.
I can't say any of this came as a surprise to me.
...because it came as a surprise to us too.
Which came as a surprise to everyone.
The results came as a surprise to many people.
That's why Anibal's death came as a surprise to me and my partner.
And that came as a surprise to me, because I was actually hired to work on quantum computation.
However, I believe that the extent and intensity of the terror carried out came as a surprise to all the observers.
Mr President, it came as a surprise to me as well that this debate was being squeezed in today.
The Irish themselves, their national parliament, debated in a subcommittee the reasons why there was a 'no' vote - because this came as a surprise to many there.
They emphasised that the decision to open a formal investigation came as a surprise to the companies since Liechtenstein's tax regime had been adopted more than 10 years ago.
It came as a surprise for me.
The letter came as a surprise.
It came as a surprise... watched a Formula 1 race in his life.
The letter came as a surprise.
However, the vital point is not that the public are now paying excessively high charges, but the fact that this came as a surprise.
The effects of Lehman and AIG in September... still came as a surprise.
This decision, taken by the Council, came as a surprise not only to us, but also to the national parliaments.
Chief Aiello, moving policemen into the factory came as a surprise.
Amendment No 4 came as a surprise to me, since, as you are aware, I have called on the Member States, not once but repeatedly, to inform us of the socio-economic impact of the recovery plan.

Alternatives:

this came as a surprise for them

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This came as a surprise for them vs This came as a surprise to them