Both surprised by and surprised at are standard. By often focuses on the cause, while at commonly focuses on the event, fact, or reaction.
Use surprised by for the thing or person causing surprise. Use surprised at for reactions to events, behaviour, or information. In many contexts, both are possible.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
By highlights the person, action, or thing producing the reaction.
At often refers to reactions to facts, behaviour, or events.
Use surprised to before an infinitive clause.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
With commonly follows the verb surprise, not the adjective surprised.
✕ I was surprised with the news. ✓ I was surprised by the news.Surprised to must be followed by a verb.
✕ She was surprised to the answer. ✓ She was surprised to hear the answer.Both by and at are standard, but the emphasis can differ slightly.
✕ He was surprised by her behaviour. ✓ He was surprised at her behaviour.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Often yes, although by slightly emphasises the cause and at the reaction.
Not usually after the adjective surprised. Use surprised by or surprised at.
Yes. Surprised to plus verb is a very common pattern.
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