surprise
Surprise can be a verb or a noun.
used as a verb
If something surprises you, you did not expect it.
What you say surprises me.
Her decision to resign had surprised everybody.
Don't use a progressive form of surprise. Don't say, for example, ‘What you say is surprising me’.
used as a noun
If something is a surprise, it surprises someone.
The result came as a surprise to everyone.
It was a great surprise to find out I had won.
In stories, expressions such as to my surprise and to her surprise are sometimes used to show that someone is surprised by something.
To her surprise he said no.
Be careful
Don't use any preposition except to in these expressions. Don't say, for example, ‘For her surprise he said no’.
Don't use any preposition except to in these expressions. Don't say, for example, ‘For her surprise he said no’.
‘surprised’
Surprised is an adjective. If you are surprised to see something or surprised to hear something, you did not expect to see it or hear it.
I was surprised to see her return so soon.
You won't be surprised to learn that I disagreed with this.
Be careful
Don't say that someone is ‘surprised at seeing’ or ‘surprised at hearing’ something. Don't say that someone is ‘surprise to’ see or hear something. Don't say, for example, ‘I was surprised at seeing her return’ or ‘I was surprise to see her return’.
Don't say that someone is ‘surprised at seeing’ or ‘surprised at hearing’ something. Don't say that someone is ‘surprise to’ see or hear something. Don't say, for example, ‘I was surprised at seeing her return’ or ‘I was surprise to see her return’.