sorprenderse
verbCEFR B1
What does “sorprenderse” mean in English?
1.to be surprised, to react with surprise
to be surprised, to react with surprise (sorprenderse de + noun / de que + subjunctive; reflexive experiencer construction)
2.to surprise
to surprise (impersonal transitive: me sorprende que + subjunctive — functioning like gustar with indirect object experiencer)
Example sentences
Me sorprende mucho que no hayas llamado, porque sé que las noticias te afectan y pensaba que querrías hablar.
It surprises me a lot that you haven't called, because I know the news affects you and I thought you'd want to talk.
Se sorprendió de que sus padres apoyaran su decisión de mudarse al extranjero sin poner ninguna objeción.
She was surprised that her parents supported her decision to move abroad without raising any objection.
No me sorprendería nada que al final decidieran casarse — llevan juntos más de diez años.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if they decided to get married in the end — they have been together for more than ten years.
How to use it
Sorprenderse means 'to be surprised' and exists in two overlapping constructions at B1. In the reflexive form (me sorprendo, te sorprendes…), it expresses the experiencer's reaction: 'me sorprendí de su respuesta' (I was surprised by her answer). In the impersonal transitive construction, sorprender functions like gustar, with the experiencer as indirect object: 'me sorprende que no hayas llamado' (it surprises me that you haven't called). When followed by que, both constructions require the subjunctive — sorprenderse de que + subj; (me) sorprende que + subj.
Common mistake
After both sorprenderse de que and me sorprende que, the embedded clause requires the subjunctive. English speakers often use the indicative: '*me sorprende que no has llamado' — this must be 'me sorprende que no hayas llamado'. The rule is the same for all emotion-class triggers.