very surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

"very surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's emotions in a particular situation. For example, "She was very surprised when her friend showed up unexpectedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was very surprised, pleasantly surprised.

The New York Times - Sports

People were very surprised".

The New York Times

"Very surprised," Bustamante said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I would be very surprised".

BBC

We're very surprised".

The New York Times - Style

I wasn't very surprised".

The Guardian

"Very surprised," Mark Teixeira said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Actually, I was very surprised".

The New York Times

"But we were very surprised".

The New York Times - Science

But I'm also very surprised".

The Guardian - Books

"I was very surprised," Mrs. Merkel said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very surprised" to convey a strong feeling of astonishment or unexpectedness. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "very surprised" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overusing "very" with other adjectives. Consider using a stronger adjective instead (e.g., "astonished" instead of "very surprised", "astounded" instead of "very surprised").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very surprised" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a subject to describe their emotional state. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very surprised" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to convey a significant level of astonishment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and everyday conversation. While it is suitable for most situations, remember to avoid overusing "very" and consider stronger synonyms for a more impactful effect. Be aware that there are also similar, slightly less common alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely surprised

Emphasizes a greater degree of surprise.

utterly astonished

Conveys a sense of complete amazement and disbelief.

completely taken aback

Indicates being caught off guard and startled.

totally amazed

Highlights the feeling of wonder and astonishment.

incredibly shocked

Focuses on the element of shock and disbelief.

quite astonished

Expresses a notable degree of surprise.

deeply impressed

Implies surprise coupled with admiration.

mildly startled

Represents a less intense form of surprise.

somewhat amazed

Indicates a moderate level of amazement.

unexpectedly impressed

Highlights the unforeseen nature of the positive surprise.

FAQs

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

"Very surprised" is typically used to describe someone's reaction to an unexpected event. For example, "I was "very surprised" to see him at the party".

What are some alternatives to saying "very surprised"?

Alternatives to "very surprised" include "extremely surprised", "utterly astonished", or "completely taken aback". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "very surprised" or "greatly surprised"?

Both "very surprised" and "greatly surprised" are grammatically correct, but "very surprised" is more commonly used in contemporary English. "Greatly surprised" might sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned.

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

While both words carry the meaning of experiencing something unexpected or astonishing, "very surprised" indicates a higher degree of astonishment than simply "surprised".