0
Jandi Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Regret
Would you please tell me if these are all acceptable with the same meaning?
1. I regret that I didn't tell him to wait for me.
2. I regret not telling him to wait for me.
3. I regret having not told him to wait for me.
4. I regret not having told him to wait for me.
Thank you very much.
1. I regret that I didn't tell him to wait for me.
2. I regret not telling him to wait for me.
3. I regret having not told him to wait for me.
4. I regret not having told him to wait for me.
Thank you very much.
Top answer
Hello Jandi When you say "I regret doing something", you mean you are sorry for that you have already done. So "I regret having done something" generally sounds redundant. But maybe you could say "I regret not having told him not to wait for me before he left our country" Here you should use 'not having told' rather than 'having not told'.
- Hello Jandi When you say "I regret doing something", you mean you are sorry for that you have already done.
- So "I regret having done something" generally sounds redundant.
- But maybe you could say "I regret not having told him not to wait for me before he left our country" Here you should use 'not having told' rather than 'having not told'.
- I hope some moderator would kindly correct it if I made any mistake.
- paco
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
Hello Jandi
When you say "I regret doing something", you mean you are sorry for that you have already done. So "I regret having done something" generally sounds redundant. But maybe you could say "I regret not having told him not to wait for me before he left our country" Here you should use 'not having told' rather than 'having not told'.
I hope some moderator would kindly co
When you say "I regret doing something", you mean you are sorry for that you have already done. So "I regret having done something" generally sounds redundant. But maybe you could say "I regret not having told him not to wait for me before he left our country" Here you should use 'not having told' rather than 'having not told'.
I hope some moderator would kindly co
00
0
I can imagine myself generating any of these except 3.
They all mean the same thing.
2. sounds the most like something from a normal, casual conversation.
4. sounds a bit "bookish" to me, but is perfectly correct grammatically.
They all mean the same thing.
2. sounds the most like something from a normal, casual conversation.
4. sounds a bit "bookish" to me, but is perfectly correct grammatically.
00
0
"regret doing sth." vs."regret to do sth."
will someone explain the difference?
will someone explain the difference?
00
Hello
'Regret doing' means 'be sorry about a past event'.
'Regret to do' to means 'be sorry about what happens now or in near future'.
Please compare:
1) I regret telling it to her.
= I am now sorry that I told it to her.
= I wish I had not told it to her.
'I told her it' is a past event.
2) I regret to tell you this.
'Regret doing' means 'be sorry about a past event'.
'Regret to do' to means 'be sorry about what happens now or in near future'.
Please compare:
1) I regret telling it to her.
= I am now sorry that I told it to her.
= I wish I had not told it to her.
'I told her it' is a past event.
2) I regret to tell you this.
00
Hello Seyfihoca
'I regret to do' is a fairly formal expression, which means 'I am sorry to have to do', e.g.
1. 'I regret to inform you that your application for the post of President has been unsuccessful.'
'I regret doing' means 'I am sorry I did', e.g.
2. 'I regret telling MrP that his application for President had failed.'
MrP
'I regret to do' is a fairly formal expression, which means 'I am sorry to have to do', e.g.
1. 'I regret to inform you that your application for the post of President has been unsuccessful.'
'I regret doing' means 'I am sorry I did', e.g.
2. 'I regret telling MrP that his application for President had failed.'
MrP
0
Related Questions