English grammar
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't know
Apologise and explain something was not on purpose.
From the scene I didn't mean to
In short
Apologise with I'm sorry. I didn't mean to says it was an accident.
Your turn
Which one goes with it was an accident?
Options: I didn't know · I didn't mean to · sorry / I'm sorry
Show answer
it was an accident → I didn't mean to
How it works
To apologise, say sorry or I'm sorry, to a friend or a stranger alike.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Your sugar? I (blank) know.
Options: didn’t · wasn't · not
Show answer
Your sugar? I didn’t know.
¿Su azúcar? No lo sabía.
Good to know
I didn't mean to says it was an accident, not on purpose. Use only one negative: I didn't know anything, NOT "I didn't know nothing".
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Sorry, Doña Elena. I didn’t (blank) to.
Options: meant · meaning · mean
Show answer
Sorry, Doña Elena. I didn’t mean to.
Perdone, Doña Elena. Fue sin querer.
apologising sorry / I'm sorry
Ramón
On the stairs? Oh, I’m sorry.
¿En la escalera? Ay, disculpe.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
On the stairs? Oh, I’m (blank).
Options: I didn't mean to · I didn't know · sorry
Show answer
Ramón
On the stairs? Oh, I’m sorry.
¿En la escalera? Ay, disculpe.
it was an accident I didn't mean to
Your turn
What goes with I didn't mean to?
Options: it was an accident · apologising · you had no idea
Show answer
I didn't mean to → it was an accident
you had no idea I didn't know
one negative only I didn't know anything (NOT "didn't know nothing")
Your turn
What goes with I didn't know anything (NOT "didn't know nothing")?
Options: it was an accident · one negative only · apologising
Show answer
I didn't know anything (NOT "didn't know nothing") → one negative only
Common mistake
Not nothing or none here. Didn't is already negative: no second negative.
I’m sorry, Nuria. I didn’t know anything.
Disculpe, Nuria. Yo no sabía nada.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| apologising | sorry / I'm sorry |
|---|---|
| it was an accident | I didn't mean to |
| you had no idea | I didn't know |
| one negative only | I didn't know anything (NOT "didn't know nothing") |
More lines from the story
- RamónYour sugar? I didn’t know.¿Su azúcar? No lo sabía.
- RamónSorry, Doña Elena. I didn’t mean to.Perdone, Doña Elena. Fue sin querer.
- RamónI’m sorry, Nuria. I didn’t know anything.Disculpe, Nuria. Yo no sabía nada.
- ElenaDon Ramón, you have my sugar in your hand.Don Ramón, tiene mi azúcar en la mano.
- ElenaNo? Well, in your sleep you ate twenty!¿No? ¡Pues dormido se comió veinte!