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Abil Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Come as a surprise, take by surprise
(a) The new amendment to the constitution came as a stunning surprise to many.
Shall we understand 'the surprise' in the negative sense? Does it mean that they are not at all happy with the amendment?
(b) The new amendment to the constitution took us by surprise.
What is the difference between 'come as a surprise' and 'take sb by surprise'?
Thanks
Shall we understand 'the surprise' in the negative sense? Does it mean that they are not at all happy with the amendment?
(b) The new amendment to the constitution took us by surprise.
What is the difference between 'come as a surprise' and 'take sb by surprise'?
Thanks
Top answer
Hi, (a) The new amendment to the constitution came as a stunning surprise to many. Shall we understand 'the surprise' in the negative sense? No.
- Hi, (a) The new amendment to the constitution came as a stunning surprise to many.
- Shall we understand 'the surprise' in the negative sense?
- No.
- The context needs to be checked for the meaning.
- Does it mean that they are not at all happy with the amendment?
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4 Answers
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Hi,
(a) The new amendment to the constitution came as a stunning surprise to many.
Shall we understand 'the surprise' in the negative sense? No. The context needs to be checked for the meaning.
Does it mean that they are not at all happy with the amendment?
(b) The new amendment to the constitution took us by surpri
(a) The new amendment to the constitution came as a stunning surprise to many.
Shall we understand 'the surprise' in the negative sense? No. The context needs to be checked for the meaning.
Does it mean that they are not at all happy with the amendment?
(b) The new amendment to the constitution took us by surpri
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Thanks Clive. So, can we say that something can come as a surprise both in the positive and negative sense?
Let me give the context: A group of citizens have been waging a campaign for constitutional safeguard for certian rights for many years. A new political block comes to power after winning a landslide victory in an election. It forms a government and tables a bill in the parliament.
Let me give the context: A group of citizens have been waging a campaign for constitutional safeguard for certian rights for many years. A new political block comes to power after winning a landslide victory in an election. It forms a government and tables a bill in the parliament.
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Hi,
You can certainly say that it came as a surprise.
'Stunning' can indeed mean surprising in the sense of shocking, but it can also have a positive sense of impresive, attractive. How about saying 'it came as a great surprise/shock'?
You can certainly say that it came as a surprise.
'Stunning' can indeed mean surprising in the sense of shocking, but it can also have a positive sense of impresive, attractive. How about saying 'it came as a great surprise/shock'?
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