Chinagene
New member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2011
- Member Type
- Retired English Teacher
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- United States
- Current Location
- United States
This is from a Chinese exam on English and I have had a hard time expressing the differences in two of the multiple choices:
I never regretted _____ the offer, for it was not where my interest lay.
A. not to accept
B. not having accepted
C. having not accepted
D. not accepting
'D' is the correct answer but to my ear, 'B' is perfectly acceptable. My problem is explaining why. I can see that 'not accepting the offer' would be a gerund phrase as well as special features of the verb 'to regret.' Is 'not having accepted the offer' a verb tense?
Thanks,
Chinagene
I never regretted _____ the offer, for it was not where my interest lay.
A. not to accept
B. not having accepted
C. having not accepted
D. not accepting
'D' is the correct answer but to my ear, 'B' is perfectly acceptable. My problem is explaining why. I can see that 'not accepting the offer' would be a gerund phrase as well as special features of the verb 'to regret.' Is 'not having accepted the offer' a verb tense?
Thanks,
Chinagene