Surprised at means feeling surprise because of something: I was surprised at the price. At is often followed by how or what: surprised at how quickly she learned. Surprised by is used in the same meaning, and the difference between them is minimal.
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be surprised at/by + noun; surprised at how/what + clause; surprised to + verb
- I was surprised at how friendly everyone was on my first day at work.
- Our teacher was surprised at how well the class did in the last test.
- Tourists are often surprised at the price of coffee in the city centre.
What changed
First versionI surprised at how fast my new colleague speaks.
RevisionI was surprised at how fast my new colleague speaks.
The verb surprise means to cause surprise in someone else, so I surprised means 'I surprised someone'. To say that you felt the surprise yourself, you need be: I was surprised. Was was added.
If a verb follows, you usually need to rather than at: I was surprised to see him at the airport. A full clause is added with that or with no linking word: I was surprised she remembered my name. At stays before a clause only when it starts with how or what: surprised at how cheap it was.
Your turn
We expected the hotel to be expensive, so we ___ at how cheap it was.
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were surprised — This is about what we felt ourselves when we saw the price, so were surprised. We surprised would mean we surprised someone, but no one is named, and the sentence falls apart.
Write about a trip or a new place where something surprised you. Name the place and what exactly surprised you.
When I first visited Tokyo, I was surprised at how quiet the trains were, even in the rush hour.
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