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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

sorry for

When I am sorry I did not wait longer, how should I say?

- I'm sorry for not waiting longer
- I'm sorry for not having waited longer

I learned at school that when I am sorry for something that happened in the past, I should say "sorry for having ..ed".

I was watching an American TV show the other day and a character talked about a lot of things he was sorry for.

In all of them he used present tense although they all happened in the past.
  

Top answer

In all of them he used present tense although they all happened in the past. They are not present tense. You are confusing the tenses of finite forms with the way time relations are expressed with -ing forms of verbs.

— CalifJim

  • In all of them he used present tense although they all happened in the past.
  • They are not present tense.
  • You are confusing the tenses of finite forms with the way time relations are expressed with -ing forms of verbs.
  • ed".
  • School English is often hyper-correct.
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6 Answers
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AnonymousI was watching an American TV show the other day and a character talked about a lot of things he was sorry for.In all of them he used present tense although they all happened in the past.
They are not present tense. You are confusing the tenses of finite forms with the way time relations are expressed with -ing forms of verbs.
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I should have said "something I did in the past" instead of "something that happened in the past".

Also, does the present condition have anything to do with it?
For example, when I am sorry that I lost my wallet, does it matter whether it is still lost or it is now recovered.
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Anonymouswhen I am sorry that I lost my wallet, does it matter whether it is still lost or it is now recovered?
No. It expresses the feeling you had at the time your wallet was lost. It doesn't say anything about the location of the wallet at the time you say this.

CJ
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Thank you, CJ!
Now I understand they are both good.

I added a question and I would appreciate it if you could take a look at it also.
(Can I say "I am sorry for having lost my wallet" for a wallet I lost but recovered?)
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AnonymousCan I say "I am sorry for having lost my wallet" for a wallet I lost but recovered?
Yes.

CJ
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