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Masanori Takaoka Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Which sounds natural?

a) I was surprised to find him still sleeping.
b) I was surprised that he was still sleeping.
c) It was surprising for me that he was still sleeping.
d) To my surprise, he was still sleeping.
  

Top answer

Masanori Takaoka Which sounds natural? All except C.

— Mister Micawber

  • Masanori Takaoka Which sounds natural?
  • All except C.
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6 Answers
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Masanori TakaokaWhich sounds natural?
All except C.
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Masanori TakaokaWhy not C?
The passive-passive is unusual there and seems awkward and non-native. (I'm not sure that that is a legitimate term, but 'it was surprising for me' seems doubly passive to me—passive + stative passive?)
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Mister Micawber'it was surprising for me' seems doubly passive to me—passive + stative passive?)
I don't see a single passive there. I'd think of 'surprising' as an adjective.
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fivejedjonI don't see a single passive there
Well, whatever it is doesn't sound very natural to me. How about you?
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I agree that it sound unnatural. I just can't put my finger on the reason.
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