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Prepositions before nouns

By surprise or of surprise?

English uses by surprise in expressions such as catch someone by surprise. Of surprise is not a standard fixed phrase.

Quick answer

Correct expression

Use by surprise after verbs like catch or take to mean unexpectedly. Of surprise is not a standard fixed combination, although surprise at and surprise about are common.

The question caught me by surprise.
The news took everyone by surprise.
She showed surprise at the result.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
catch + someone + by surprise

Describing something unexpected

This expression means someone did not expect an event.

The sudden rain caught us by surprise.
2
take + someone + by surprise

Showing unexpected impact

Take by surprise has a similar meaning to catch by surprise.

The announcement took investors by surprise.
3
surprise at + noun

Showing a reaction

Use surprise at before the thing causing surprise.

He expressed surprise at the decision.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
by surprise
The move caught the team by surprise.
Unexpectedly; usually after catch or take.
of surprise
Not standard as a fixed phrase.
Use surprise at or surprise about instead.
surprise at
Her surprise at the news was obvious.
Reaction to something.
surprise about
I was surprised about the delay.
A less formal alternative in some contexts.

Common mistakes

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

Using by surprise without a verb

By surprise normally follows catch or take.

✕ The news by surprise everyone. ✓ The news took everyone by surprise.

Using of surprise as a fixed phrase

English does not normally use this combination.

✕ a feeling of surprise at first is natural ✓ a feeling of surprise is natural

Confusing surprise and surprised

Surprise is a noun; surprised is an adjective.

✕ I was surprise at the result. ✓ I was surprised at the result.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The announcement caught us ___ surprise.
2. She expressed surprise ___ the sudden change.
3. The result took everyone ___ surprise.

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Frequently asked questions

What does by surprise mean?

It means unexpectedly, usually after catch or take.

Is of surprise correct?

Not as a fixed phrase. Use surprise at, surprise about, or feeling of surprise depending on the sentence.

Can I say surprised by?

Yes. Surprised by is a common adjective pattern.

"behind bar" or "of bar"? "beyond description" or "of description"? by, accident, of, accident "by boat" or "of boat"? "by chance" or "of chance"? "by default", "in default" or "of default"? "by extension", "of extension" or "for extension"? "by lot" or "with lot"? by, of, for, in or agreed-upon definition? by, of, in, into or to category? by, of, in, via or on telephone? by, of, on, for or in bus?

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