"by mistake"是一个介词短语,核心含义是:错误地;不小心地;误(做了某事)。
它强调行为是由于疏忽、失误或判断错误导致的,而非故意为之。
"by mistake"通常修饰动词或动词短语,用来说明动作的“错误性”,在句中多作状语,位置一般在句末(或动词后)。
1、 主动句:主语 + 谓语 + 宾语 + by mistake
(强调“主语误做了某事”)
I took your coat by mistake.(我误拿了你的外套。)
She spelled his name wrong by mistake.(她不小心把他的名字拼错了。)
He poured salt into the coffee by mistake.(他误把盐倒进了咖啡里。)
2、 被动句:主语 + be + 过去分词 + by mistake
(强调“某事被错误地做了”)
The package was delivered to my neighbor by mistake.(包裹被误送到我邻居家了。)
Your email was deleted by mistake.(你的邮件被不小心删掉了。)
3、 一般疑问句:Did + 主语 + 谓语 + 宾语 + by mistake?
Did you take my pen by mistake?(你是不是误拿了我的笔?)
Did they send the invitation to the wrong person by mistake?(他们是不是误把邀请函发给了别人?)
by mistake:侧重“错误”(因疏忽或判断失误导致的行为);
by accident:侧重“意外”(偶然发生的、无计划的行为)。
例:
I met my old friend by accident.(我偶然遇到了老朋友。)→ 意外,不是错误;
I drank her tea by mistake.(我误喝了她的茶。)→ 错误,不是意外。
"by mistake"是表达“非故意的错误行为”的常用短语,记住它的核心:“误做”,用在动作之后说明原因即可。日常交流中非常常见,比如“拿错东西、说错话、发错消息”等场景都能用~