On Purpose or by Accident?

by Vocafy Vérifié

Anglais (US) B1 15 questions Words & expressions

Explore short stories about choices, mistakes, and surprises. Discover how “on purpose” and “by accident” explain what people meant to do.

1. 1. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

   What does this tell us about 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.

   Did Ella make a choice?

   Show solution

   • She decided to turn it off.

   “On purpose” tells us that someone meant to do something.

2. 2. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

   What happened to 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.

   Was knocking over the glass his goal?

   Show solution

   • He did not mean to knock over the glass.

   An accident can be a small everyday mistake; it does not have to be serious.

3. 3. Complétez le blanc.

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

   • by
   • in
   • on

   This expression has a fixed preposition.

   Show solution

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

   The expression is “on purpose.” The preposition stays the same with different actions.

4. 4. Complétez le blanc.

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

   • by
   • on
   • with

   The preposition is different from the one in “on purpose.”

   Show solution

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

   Use “by accident” for an action you did not mean to do.

5. 5. Complétez le blanc.

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

   • by accident
   • on purpose

   The amount of sugar matches the speaker's preference.

   Show solution

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

   “On purpose” can describe a simple, useful choice—not just a harmful action.

6. 6. Complétez le blanc.

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

   • by accident
   • on purpose

   Compare the person the speaker meant to call with the person actually called.

   Show solution

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

   A planned action can go wrong: the call was planned, but calling the boss was not.

7. 7. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

   How did the speaker discover the cafe?

   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.

   What place was the speaker actually looking for?

   Show solution

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

   “By accident” can describe a pleasant discovery, not only a mistake.

8. 8. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

   What does the speaker explain about the socks?

   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.

   Does an unusual result always mean someone made a mistake?

   Show solution

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

   Something that looks like a mistake may be a deliberate choice.

9. 9. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

   What is the speaker apologizing for?

   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.

   The speaker regrets one part of the decision.

   Show solution

   • Moving the bike without asking.

   Saying “I'm sorry” does not always mean an action happened by accident.

10. 10. Complétez le blanc.

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

    • by accident
    • on purpose

    The wrong answer was part of the lesson.

    Show solution

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

    A person can make an error intentionally to help someone learn.

11. 11. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

    What does the speaker say was NOT true?

    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.

    The speaker accepts what happened but explains the intention.

    Show solution

    • The speaker wanted to break the mug.

    “I didn't do it on purpose” denies the intention, not the action itself.

12. 12. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

    Which summary matches both actions?

    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.

    The speaker's intention changes between the two actions.

    Show solution

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

    An accidental action can be followed by a deliberate action to fix it.

13. 13. Complétez le blanc.

    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

    Separate the planned action from its unexpected result.

    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.

    Doing one thing on purpose does not mean every result of that action is intended.

14. 14. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

    Why did the spill happen “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.

    Knowing something might happen is different from wanting it to happen.

    Show solution

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

    Taking a risk does not necessarily mean intending the unwanted result.

15. 15. Choisissez la bonne réponse.

    Which statement describes Lena's plan and the result?

    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.

    Did making planned bad moves produce the result Lena wanted?

    Show solution

    • She tried to lose, but she won.

    “On purpose” describes the intention behind an action; it does not guarantee that the plan succeeds.