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Prepositions after adjectives

Surprising with prepositions

Surprising to is the main fixed pattern after the adjective. In and for usually introduce additional information rather than acting as core complements.

Quick answer

Most natural patterns with surprising

Use surprising to before a person affected by the surprise. Surprising in and surprising for are possible in broader sentence structures, but they are less central patterns.

The result was surprising to many experts.
It was surprising to hear that news.
Her calmness was surprising to the audience.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
surprising to + person

Who feels surprise

Use surprising to show who finds something unexpected.

The change was surprising to investors.
His decision seemed surprising to his family.
2
surprising in + respect

Unexpected within a specific aspect

In can introduce the area or respect in which something is surprising.

The report was surprising in several ways.
Her answer was surprising in its detail.
3
surprising for + noun or situation

Unexpected considering circumstances

For may introduce the standard or context being considered.

The weather was surprising for early spring.
His progress was surprising for a beginner.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
surprising to
The news was surprising to everyone.
showing who experiences the surprise
surprising in
The design is surprising in its simplicity.
showing the aspect that seems unexpected
surprising for
The child was surprisingly calm for her age.
showing comparison with expectations or norms
surprising that
It is surprising that nobody complained.
followed by a clause explaining the unexpected fact

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using to before a thing instead of a person

Surprising to usually refers to the person experiencing surprise.

✕ The report was surprising to the details. ✓ The report was surprising in the details.

Confusing surprising and surprised

Surprising describes the thing causing surprise.

✕ I was surprising to hear the news. ✓ I was surprised to hear the news.

Using in for people

Use to for the affected person.

✕ The announcement was surprising in investors. ✓ The announcement was surprising to investors.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The decision was surprising ___ many voters.
2. The article was surprising ___ its honesty.
3. The result was surprising ___ a small team.

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Frequently asked questions

Is surprising to the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the main fixed combination after surprising.

Can surprising in be correct?

Yes. It is used when referring to the aspect or respect in which something is unexpected.

What is the difference between surprising and surprised?

Surprising describes something that causes surprise, while surprised describes the person who feels it.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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