we were surprised vs we were surprising

The correct phrase is "we were surprised." This is the past tense of the verb "to be surprised." On the other hand, "we were surprising" is not correct in this context because it uses the verb "surprising" as an adjective, which does not match the past tense verb form needed in this sentence.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 11056 views

we were surprised

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is the past tense of the verb "to be surprised." It is used to describe a state of being surprised in the past.

Examples:

We were surprised by the sudden turn of events.
They were surprised to see us at the party.

Show examples from the web [+]

Your ears could never pick up these frequencies, but we move them into a range, and when we do, we were surprised to see how eerie and scary they actually were.
However, I should also like to point out that, on reading the 2007 budget, we were surprised by the Council's position, which reduced Community resources for Daphne III, compared with the Commission proposal.
Frankly, we were surprised it would be offered.
When we got home, we were surprised to find the duffle bag but even more surprised by what was in it.
Well, to be honest, we were surprised to learn that he was previously employed at a professor at M.I.T.
In the discussions on Turkey, we were surprised by the highly original and appropriate formulations which placed responsibility for accession fairly and squarely on Turkey itself.
Only recently we were surprised at the results of surveys that demonstrate the complete ignorance of the European citizens about the work of the Convention, despite the considerable resources that have been invested in informing them.
We were surprised to hear about Jordan Randall.
We were surprised you'd go for a washout like him.
We were surprised to hear the news.
We were surprised at this figure of 25.7 API that was pulled out for the definition of heavy crude oil.
And then we were surprised when every ad hoc new measure didn't bring an end to the crisis, and of course that made it very easy to look for a whipping boy for our collective European failure, and of course that was Greece.
Well, to be honest, we were surprised to learn that he was previously employed at a professor at M.I.T.
I must say we were surprised to hear from you.
When we arrived we were surprised by the press and disaster tourists.
In many instances - as Mrs Jöns has already said - we were surprised that it has taken an economic crisis to actually make a reduction in bureaucracy possible in the Commission.
As you know, we were surprised a few months ago by a change in the situation in the market for some agricultural products, which not long ago we believed to be unthinkable; an enormous pressure on supply, with the consequences that we have been seeing.
You know, we were surprised to learn that Cole's first wife, Mallory, was a sorority sister of yours in college, and you were devastated by her death.
So we were not that surprised by what has happened, but we were surprised by the magnitude and the intensity of the cut.
Firstly, as far as the trade in counterfeit medicinal products is concerned, we were surprised to learn that some of them are being produced in two countries of the European Union and then marketed through a third European country, namely Switzerland.

we were surprising

This phrase is not correct in this context.

The phrase "we were surprising" is not correct in this context. If you want to use the verb "surprising," you could say, for example, "We were surprising everyone with our magic tricks."

Show examples from the web [+]

But the sounds of the fountains were surprising calming.
l told you there were surprising features.
Not surprising, given your salary.
A surprising attachment to certain... people remains steadfast.
And the new winner for least surprising sentence ever...
Not surprising El Presidente is hostile towards us.
Your sutures need improvement, which is surprising.
Not surprising, given your mental state.
Mankind has a surprising proclivity for sacrifice.
And what I found was quite surprising.
There's nothing surprising about that.
It's surprising how you adept.
What happened was painful but not really surprising.
This wording is both surprising and objectionable.
Surprising, I mean not surprising.
Paula, the last couple of weeks that I've spent with you have been amazing, surprising, joyful, surprising.
NARRATOR: "The fate of millions" of black slaves seemed settled when a surprising call for emancipation arose from an even more surprising source.
You know, the criminal records are not surprising.
This can't be surprising to you anymore.
No it isn't so surprising, Ms...

Alternatives:

We were surprising everyone with our magic tricks.

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we were surprised vs we were surprising