verb (structure) · neutral

regret + V-ing / regret to + V

Band 4-5task1task2speaking

regret + V-ing = be sorry about something in the past; regret to + V = be sorry to have to do/say something (formal announcement).

Examples

“I regret telling him my secret — it was a mistake.”

“We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.”

“She regrets not studying harder in high school.”

Band 8 sentence

“We regret to advise all participants that the conference has been postponed until further notice.”

Collocations

  • regret + V-ing (regret telling / regret not studying)
  • regret to + V (regret to inform / regret to announce)

Word family

regret verbregretful adjectiveregretfully adverb

Common mistakes

I regret to tell you that I went to that party.→I regret telling you that I went to that party.

We regret cancelling the meeting.→We regret cancelling the meeting.

Say it for a higher band

5be sorry + V-ing→6regret + V-ing→7+regret + V-ing / regret to + V

Synonyms

be sorry for + V-ing

Easily confused

be sorry to + V / be sorry + V-ing

“I am sorry to tell you that the shop is closed.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

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In Gerunds & infinitives

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