4

What is the main difference between these sentences:

  • To your surprise, he is alive.
  • Much to your surprise, he is alive.

Is much only used to emphasize your surprise?

Can I have a conversation with a buddy like this?

— You tried to kill your husband last night?
— Yup, I think he is dead.
— Much to your surprise, he is alive.
— Oh.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

"Much" is added for emphasis here.

It's normal to say "Much to my surprise" (which means "I {am/was} very surprised"), but not at all idiomatic to say "Much to your surprise". For that, you'd say "You'd say something like "You'll be surprised to {hear/learn/know} that he's still alive".

Improve this answer
6
  • 4
    Much to his surprise is also common. Much to your surprise is uncommon because we usually do not directly tell others what their emotional reaction was, although we routinely relate our own or third persons reactions.
    – bib
    Commented Feb 8, 2013 at 12:47
  • @bib: We usually don't, but most of us grew up with parents who were certain that they had to right to tell us not only what we felt, but also what we believed. I did, at any rate.
    – user21497
    Commented Feb 8, 2013 at 12:52
  • I gave you a +1 even though you are resentful. And you know it!
    – bib
    Commented Feb 8, 2013 at 13:06
  • @bib: I'm afraid that I don't understand your criticism. I upvoted your comment because I agree with what you said: We do routinely relate our own & 3rd persons' reactions but not 2nd persons' reactions. I don't think that in my comment I expressed any resentment about my parents' telling me what I felt & what I believed. I was relating a personal factoid. At 70, I don't much care what they did when I was a kid, but I did stop confiding in my mother when she started telling me what I believed. I guess that when I was a troubled teenager, I was resentful when told I didn't know what I believed.
    – user21497
    Commented Feb 8, 2013 at 13:39
  • @bib: By the way, I liked your Shakespeare imitation very much. I liked the other commentor's too. I was looking for it a few minutes ago to add this comment, but I couldn't find it.
    – user21497
    Commented Feb 8, 2013 at 13:41

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.