Cool MateI expected that vs Why doesn't that surprise me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I expected that
Top 2,000 (common)
Why doesn't that surprise me
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: I expected that
| I expected that | Why doesn't that surprise me | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ ɪkˈspɛktəd ðæt//🇺🇸 //aɪ ɪkˈspɛktəd ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //waɪ ˈdʌznt ðæt səˈpraɪz mi//🇺🇸 //waɪ ˈdʌzənt ðæt sərˈpraɪz mi// |
| Meaning | I thought something would happen. | I expected this to happen. |
| Example | I expected that the meeting would start on time. | When I heard he lost again, I thought, 'Why doesn't that surprise me?' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | expected that night, expected that situation, expected that outcome | surprise me, expected outcome, casual conversation |
| Common mistakes | Incorrectly using 'expect' without 'that' when a clause follows., Using incorrect tenses after 'expected that'., Confusing 'expected that' with 'hoped that'. | Using it in formal situations., Misplacing the emphasis, making it sound too sarcastic., Confusing the context where surprise was expected. |
| Usage notes | Use in statements about what you thought would occur. Suitable for everyday conversations and writing but avoid in very formal contexts. | Use when something unexpected happens that you actually anticipated. More common in casual conversations; less appropriate in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: I expected that vs Why doesn't that surprise me
What's the difference between I expected that and Why doesn't that surprise me?
I expected that: I thought something would happen. Why doesn't that surprise me: I expected this to happen.
Which is more formal: I expected that and Why doesn't that surprise me?
I expected that is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
I expected that: I expected that the meeting would start on time. Why doesn't that surprise me: When I heard he lost again, I thought, 'Why doesn't that surprise me?'
Can I use I expected that and Why doesn't that surprise me interchangeably?
Not always. I expected that and Why doesn't that surprise me are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.