regret

Question

In this example below,is it awkward to use to-infinitive after 'regret' ?e.g. If you don't study for the exam, you will regret not to study for the        exam.And if it is so, I can assume that with the sentence involving the future time marker(i.e. will, is going to, etc.) it is generally not the case for the word 'regret' to have a complement as to-infinitive.Is my opinion  right?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

cho7712In this example below,is it awkward to use to-infinitive after 'regret' ?e.g. If you don't study for the exam, you will regret not to study for the exam.

It's not just awkward; it is not natural English.

We normally use 'regret' + to- infinitive to announce bad news:

1. I regret to inform you that you have not passed the test.

We us 'regret' + -ing form to speak of things previously (not) done:

2, I regret dropping out of university - I am sorry that I dropped out.
3. You will regret not going to Germany. - You will regret (in the future) that you did not go to Germany.
4. You will regret not studying for the exam. - You will regret that that you did not study

In #3 and #4. the not-going/not-studying may occurr before or after the words are uttered; in both cases the regret will be felt after the not-going/not-studying..

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you for the answer,
I was loosely thinking the concept of regret with to-infinitve as referring to the future event.
And,

fivejedjonYou will regret (in the future) that you did not go to Germany.

the bracketed phrase makes me understand your explanation completely. I simply couldn't think of it.
Then, it seems that my opinion in the original post is valid. Doesn't it correspond with your explanation?

Fivejedjon · Answer

cho7712Then, it seems that my opinion in the original post is valid.

It is.

regret

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