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Thread: Perfect Infinitive with regret

  1. #1
    Kotfor is offline Member
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    Default Perfect Infinitive with regret

    I have found this thread. http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...something.html


    But it is closed now. It is about the usage of perfect infinitive with regret.

    "I regret not to have done something"


    I still don't understand the reason why it is not common for mordern speakers. Is it because of the verb REGRET itself?

  2. #2
    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: Perfect Infinitive with regret

    I would say regret takes a present participle (among other things*), not an infinitive.

    'I regret not having piano lessons when I was young'.

    'He's always regretted taking cocaine.'

    'For the rest of her life she'll regret going to Australia.'

    * Other uses:

    'You'll regret it if you're not home by midnight.'

    'I called you stupid. I regret that.'

    'He'll regret the day he called me a liar.'

    Rover

  3. #3
    garret is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Perfect Infinitive with regret

    Rover, don't you mean regret + gerund?

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