【问】 be surprised at与be surprised by有无区别?

【答】 R. Quirk等在A Com prehensive Grammar of the English Language只是探讨了这两种结构的语法区别：

I was surprised by their rejection of the offer. [1a]

I was surprised at their rejection of the offer. [1b]”

他们指出：“……也可在被动语态的句子中用at代替施动介词by[1b]。这里的at表示感情反应及其刺激因素之间的关系。这一语境中的surprised是分词形容词(它前面可以加very)。”(§9.63)

但是他们没有分析这两种结构的语义区别。F.T. Wood则提到了这两种结构的语义区别。他说：“当surprised作“被吓一跳”、“大吃一惊”或“突然被捉”(taken by surprise)解时，其后跟介词by。当surprised作“充满惊奇”(filled with surprise)时，其后跟介词at。”

下面的例句有助于理解这两种结构的语法差别和语义差别：

1. I am surprised at your behaviour. (COD)

我对你的行为深感惊异。

2. I am very surprised at you. (Close)

看到你使我很惊讶。

3. We were surprised at finding the house empty. (ALD)

我们发现这屋子空无一人，十分惊异。

4. I am not surprised at your misunderstanding me. (Shaw)

对于你对我的误解，我并不感到惊奇。

5. The thief was surprised by a knock on the door and jumped out of the window.(Alexander et al)

小偷被敲门声吓了一跳，从窗户跳了出去。

6. Since none of the polls had predicted the winner，everyone was surprised by the result ofthe election.

A. astounded B. delighted C. encouraged D. perturbed (TOEFL)