¿On Purpose o by Accident?

by Vocafy Verificado

Inglés (Estados Unidos) B1 15 preguntas Words & expressions

Explora historias breves sobre decisiones, errores y sorpresas. Descubre cómo “on purpose” y “by accident” explican lo que las personas tenían la intención de hacer.

1. 1. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué nos dice esto sobre Ella?

   Ella turned off her phone on purpose before the movie.

   • She decided to turn it off.
   • She turned it off without meaning to.
   • She wanted it to stay on, but it stopped working.

   ¿Ella tomó una decisión?

   Show solution

   • She decided to turn it off.

   “On purpose” nos indica que alguien tenía la intención de hacer algo.

2. 2. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué le pasó a Max?

   While reaching for the bread, Max knocked over his glass by accident.

   • He knocked over the glass to get attention.
   • He did not mean to knock over the glass.
   • He knocked over the glass because someone asked him to.

   ¿Su objetivo era volcar el vaso?

   Show solution

   • He did not mean to knock over the glass.

   Un accidente puede ser un pequeño error cotidiano; no tiene que ser grave.

3. 3. Completa el espacio en blanco.

   I saved a seat for you ___ purpose because I knew you were coming.

   • by
   • in
   • on

   Esta expresión tiene una preposición fija.

   Show solution

   I saved a seat for you on purpose because I knew you were coming.

   La expresión es “on purpose”. La preposición se mantiene igual con distintas acciones.

4. 4. Completa el espacio en blanco.

   I opened the wrong file ___ accident; the file names looked almost the same.

   • by
   • on
   • with

   La preposición es diferente de la que se usa en “on purpose”.

   Show solution

   I opened the wrong file by accident; the file names looked almost the same.

   Usa “by accident” para una acción que no tenías intención de hacer.

5. 5. Completa el espacio en blanco.

   I didn't want a very sweet drink, so I used less sugar ___.

   • by accident
   • on purpose

   La cantidad de azúcar se ajusta a la preferencia de quien habla.

   Show solution

   I didn't want a very sweet drink, so I used less sugar on purpose.

   “On purpose” puede describir una elección sencilla y útil, no solo una acción dañina.

6. 6. Completa el espacio en blanco.

   I meant to call my sister, but I tapped my boss's name instead. I called my boss ___.

   • by accident
   • on purpose

   Compara a la persona a la que el hablante quería llamar con la persona a la que realmente llamó.

   Show solution

   I meant to call my sister, but I tapped my boss's name instead. I called my boss by accident.

   Una acción planeada puede salir mal: la llamada estaba planeada, pero llamar al jefe no.

7. 7. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Cómo descubrió el hablante la cafetería?

   I found this cafe by accident while I was looking for a bookstore.

   • The speaker had planned to visit the cafe.
   • The speaker followed a friend's directions to the cafe.
   • The speaker found the cafe without trying to find it.

   ¿Qué lugar buscaba realmente el hablante?

   Show solution

   • The speaker found the cafe without trying to find it.

   “By accident” puede describir un descubrimiento agradable, no solo un error.

8. 8. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué explica la persona que habla sobre los calcetines?

   Yes, my socks are different colors. I wore them like this on purpose because I thought it looked fun.

   • The speaker knew the socks were different and wanted that look.
   • The speaker thought the socks were the same color.
   • The speaker noticed the different colors only after getting dressed.

   ¿Un resultado inusual siempre significa que alguien cometió un error?

   Show solution

   • The speaker knew the socks were different and wanted that look.

   Algo que parece un error puede ser una elección deliberada.

9. 9. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Por qué se está disculpando la persona que habla?

   I'm sorry. I moved your bike on purpose to clear the door, but I should have asked you first.

   • Moving the wrong bike.
   • Moving the bike without asking.
   • Forgetting to move the bike.

   La persona que habla se arrepiente de una parte de la decisión.

   Show solution

   • Moving the bike without asking.

   Decir “I'm sorry” no siempre significa que una acción ocurrió por accidente.

10. 10. Completa el espacio en blanco.

    The teacher wanted the students to spot an error. She wrote one wrong answer ___ so they could discuss it.

    • by accident
    • on purpose

    La respuesta incorrecta era parte de la lección.

    Show solution

    The teacher wanted the students to spot an error. She wrote one wrong answer on purpose so they could discuss it.

    Una persona puede cometer un error intencionalmente para ayudar a alguien a aprender.

11. 11. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    ¿Qué dice la persona que habla que NO era cierto?

    I broke your mug, but I didn't do it on purpose.

    • The mug broke.
    • The speaker caused the mug to break.
    • The speaker wanted to break the mug.

    La persona que habla acepta lo que ocurrió, pero explica su intención.

    Show solution

    • The speaker wanted to break the mug.

    “I didn't do it on purpose” niega la intención, no la acción en sí.

12. 12. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    ¿Qué resumen corresponde a ambas acciones?

    I sent you the wrong photo by accident. When I noticed my mistake, I deleted it on purpose.

    • Sending the photo was a mistake; deleting it was a choice.
    • Sending the photo was a choice; deleting it was a mistake.
    • Both sending and deleting the photo were mistakes.

    La intención de la persona que habla cambia entre las dos acciones.

    Show solution

    • Sending the photo was a mistake; deleting it was a choice.

    Una acción accidental puede ir seguida de una acción deliberada para corregirla.

13. 13. Completa el espacio en blanco.

    I opened the window on purpose to let in fresh air. As I opened it, I knocked a plant off the windowsill. I hadn't meant to touch the plant, so I knocked it over ___.

    • on purpose
    • by accident

    Separa la acción planeada de su resultado inesperado.

    Show solution

    I opened the window on purpose to let in fresh air. As I opened it, I knocked a plant off the windowsill. I hadn't meant to touch the plant, so I knocked it over by accident.

    Hacer algo a propósito no significa que todos los resultados de esa acción sean intencionales.

14. 14. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    ¿Por qué ocurrió el derrame “by accident”?

    Theo carried a full cup up the stairs even though he knew it might spill. He wanted to keep the drink in the cup, but he slipped and spilled it.

    • He had decided to spill the drink before starting.
    • He wanted to spill the drink, but not on the stairs.
    • He knew a spill was possible, but he did not mean to cause it.

    Saber que algo podría suceder es distinto de querer que suceda.

    Show solution

    • He knew a spill was possible, but he did not mean to cause it.

    Correr un riesgo no significa necesariamente tener la intención de que ocurra el resultado no deseado.

15. 15. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    ¿Qué afirmación describe el plan de Lena y el resultado?

    Lena wanted to lose the board game so her little brother could win. She made several bad moves on purpose, but her brother still lost.

    • She wanted to win, and she won.
    • She tried to lose, but she won.
    • She tried to lose, and she lost.

    ¿Hacer malas jugadas a propósito produjo el resultado que Lena quería?

    Show solution

    • She tried to lose, but she won.

    “On purpose” describe la intención detrás de una acción; no garantiza que el plan tenga éxito.