Questions & Answers about Det var ikke med vilje!
Why does Danish use med here instead of a word for 'on'?
In Danish, the fixed expression for 'on purpose' is med vilje, which literally translates to 'with will.' Prepositions rarely match up perfectly between languages, so it is best to memorize med vilje as a set phrase.
Does vilje mean 'purpose' in other contexts too?
Not usually. Vilje directly translates to 'will' or 'willpower,' just like in the English phrase 'free will' (fri vilje). So saying you did something med vilje means you did it using your active will.
If I want to say 'I didn't do it on purpose,' do I just replace Det var with Jeg gjorde det?
Exactly! You would say Jeg gjorde det ikke med vilje. The phrase med vilje acts just like the English 'on purpose' and typically goes at the very end of the sentence to describe how the action was done.
Could I put ikke at the end of the sentence, like Det var med vilje ikke?
No, because Danish has strict word order rules. In a main clause like this one, the negation ikke must come right after the finite verb, which is var in this sentence.
Learn Det var ikke med vilje and more in Danish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free