Sem Querer vs. De Propósito: Accidental or on Purpose — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use sem querer for an unintentional action
Sem querer means by accident, unintentionally, or without meaning to. Use it when an action happened but was not the person’s plan. It can appear before or after the verb, depending on emphasis.
De propósito means on purpose or deliberately. These phrases can change how a listener interprets the same action, so state which one you mean when responsibility or intent matters.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Derrubei o copo sem querer. | I knocked over the glass by accident. |
| Você fez isso de propósito? | Did you do that on purpose? |
| Apaguei o arquivo sem querer e preciso recuperá-lo. | I deleted the file by accident and need to recover it. |
Place the phrase near the action it describes
Both expressions can come at the end of a sentence for a natural explanation: esqueci sem querer (I forgot unintentionally) or fiz de propósito (I did it intentionally). You can also put them before the verb when contrasting the intention.
Sem intenção is a more formal way to express lack of intention. Intencionalmente or propositalmente can mean deliberately, but de propósito is usually simpler in everyday conversation.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Não fechei a janela de propósito; achei que você queria ar fresco. | I didn’t close the window on purpose; I thought you wanted fresh air. |
| Ela esbarrou em mim sem querer. | She bumped into me accidentally. |
| O atraso foi intencional. | The delay was intentional. |
Remember: Use sem querer for an accident and de propósito for an intentional action; place either phrase near the verb it explains.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
I knocked over the glass by accident.
Show a Portuguese answer
Derrubei o copo sem querer.
Did you do that on purpose?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você fez isso de propósito?
I deleted the file by accident and need to recover it.
Show a Portuguese answer
Apaguei o arquivo sem querer e preciso recuperá-lo.
I didn’t close the window on purpose; I thought you wanted fresh air.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não fechei a janela de propósito; achei que você queria ar fresco.
She bumped into me accidentally.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela esbarrou em mim sem querer.
The delay was intentional.
Show a Portuguese answer
O atraso foi intencional.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Use sem querer for an accident and de propósito for an intentional action; place either phrase near the verb it explains.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Sem Querer vs. De Propósito: Accidental or on Purpose? lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
Browse all learning guides
