I am very surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

"I am very surprised" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to express surprise. For example, "I am very surprised that you remembered my birthday despite our recent disagreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Vaz said: "I am very surprised at this figure.

The Guardian

I am very surprised by the judges' decision.

The New York Times - Sports

They play really well, I am very surprised.

The Guardian - Sport

"Here there was no warning from the Israelis and I am very surprised this has happened" said Mr Jadiyan.

Independent

I am very surprised at how few state legislative races in Connecticut are uncontested this year.

The New York Times

Keith Vaz, the chairman of the home affairs select committee, said: "I am very surprised by the number of officers who were able to resign to avoid justice.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

I was very surprised.

The New York Times - Food

"But I'm very surprised.

The New York Times

So I'm very surprised myself".

The New York Times - Sports

I was very surprised at the scores.

Independent

"I was very surprised they liked me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I am very surprised" to express genuine astonishment or unexpectedness, ensuring the context warrants a degree of surprise rather than mere mild interest.

Common error

Avoid using "I am very surprised" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound repetitive. Vary your expressions of surprise with alternatives such as "I am astonished" or "I never expected that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I am very surprised" functions as an expression of emotion, specifically conveying a feeling of unexpectedness or astonishment. It serves to communicate the speaker's reaction to a situation or piece of information, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I am very surprised" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for conveying astonishment or unexpectedness. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to communicate personal reactions to unanticipated events. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overuse and consider stylistic alternatives like "I am astonished" or "I never expected that" to maintain engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I'm utterly astonished

Replaces "very surprised" with a more emphatic adjective, "utterly astonished".

I find that quite astonishing

Uses "astonishing" instead of "surprised" and changes the sentence structure slightly.

That's a real shock

Uses "shock" to express a strong feeling of surprise and disbelief.

That genuinely took me aback

Expresses surprise as being taken off guard by something.

That's the last thing I expected

Expresses surprise by indicating the event was highly improbable in one's expectations.

It's quite unexpected to me

Highlights the unexpected nature of the situation.

I was caught completely off guard

Emphasizes the unexpectedness and unpreparedness for the event.

I didn't anticipate that at all

Focuses on the lack of expectation, implying surprise.

I'm blown away by that

Uses a more informal expression to indicate strong surprise.

I never saw that coming

An informal idiom expressing a lack of foresight, implying surprise.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I am very surprised"?

You can use alternatives like "I am astonished", "I never expected that", or "that took me aback" depending on the context.

How can I use "I am very surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "I am very surprised" to express your reaction to unexpected news or events. For example, "I am very surprised that you remembered my birthday" or "I am very surprised by the election results".

Is it okay to use "I am very surprised" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "I am very surprised" might sound slightly informal for academic writing. Consider using more formal alternatives like "I find that astonishing" or "it is unexpected" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "I am surprised" and "I am very surprised"?

The addition of "very" intensifies the expression of surprise. "I am surprised" indicates a general feeling of unexpectedness, while "I am very surprised" conveys a stronger degree of astonishment.