Have you ever wanted to know the difference between ‘regret’ + -ing form of the verb vs ‘to’ + infinitive? Find out with Charlene in this English In A Minute.
Charlene
Do we use regret with an ing verb or with to plus infinitive?
Watch this video to find out – you won’t regret it.
Regret is a verb. It means ‘to feel bad about a past action or situation’.
We often use it to talk about mistakes we have made and feel bad about.
It can be followed by a noun: You’ll regret that.
Most commonly, we use regret plus ing:
I regret staying up so late last night. Now I’m tired.
Regret plus to plus infinitive is only really used to make announcements of bad news.
It’s often found in formal letters, for example:
We regret to inform you that your job application has not been successful.
At a train station or airport they might announce: We regret to inform you that the 16:10 to Scotland has been cancelled.
Well, I don’t regret any of this and I hope you don’t regret learning about regret.
See you.
‘Regret’ + -ing form of the verb vs ‘to’ + infinitive
Regret + ing
Regret is a verb. It means ‘to feel bad about a past action or situation’ and is often used to talk about mistakes we have made and feel bad about.
- I regret buying that – it was expensive and doesn’t work properly.
- She regrets not studying for her exam. She failed.
Regret + to + infinitive
Regret + to + infinitive is formal and is used to make announcements of bad news.
- We regret to inform you that there has been an accident.
- We regret to inform you that the 21:25 flight between Texas and London has been cancelled.