I am excited to see smth/I am excited about seeing smth

Are you asking whether you can use a to-infinitive complement after other adjectives? Yes, you can, if the adjective expresses an emotional reaction:

Are you pleased to hear from me?
I was disappointed to find the fridge was empty.
She was astonished to see her old frien Judy standing there.




It's not a great example but yes. It likely means that the prospect of seeing him every is exciting to you.
Sorry for the many questions. In "I am ashamed of doing that yesterday" - the "doing" part refers to the past?
 
Yes.

I am ashamed of doing that yesterday. = I am ashamed that I did that yesterday.
 
In "I am ashamed of doing that yesterday" - the "doing" part refers to the past?

I can't make sense of this question.

You've tagged the word 'yesterday' to the end of your own made-up sentence and now you're wondering if you're talking about the present or the future? Please explain.
 
Sorry for the asking so many questions. In "I am ashamed of doing that yesterday", does the "doing" part refers refer to the past?
Yes, but that's completely clear from the use of the word "yesterday". If something happened yesterday, it can't be in the future.

In addition to 5jj's alternative way of wording it in post #22, it could also be worded "I'm ashamed of having done that yesterday".
 
I'm ashamed of doing that yesterday.
I'm ashamed of having done that yesterday.
I was ashamed of doing that yesterday.

I was ashamed of having done that yesterday.
----------------------------

[ In the present ]
[ In the past ]
 
I can't make sense of this question.

You've tagged the word 'yesterday' to the end of your own made-up sentence and now you're wondering if you're talking about the present or the future? Please explain.
After some adjectives ing refers to the future automatically,do they?-I am excited about seeing her. After some adjectives in refers to the past? I ashamed of doing that
 
Yes, but that's completely clear from the use of the word "yesterday". If something happened yesterday, it can't be in the future.

In addition to 5jj's alternative way of wording it in post #22, it could also be worded "I'm ashamed of having done that yesterday".
Is "I am ashamed of doing it now" correct? Meaning the "doing" part is happening now.
 
Is "I am ashamed of doing it now" correct no question mark here (meaning the "doing" part is happening now)?
If that was a sentence any native speaker would utter, yes. However, we wouldn't say that. We'd say something like "I'm ashamed of doing this" or "I'm ashamed [that] I'm doing this".
 
If you feel shame, it can only mean that either you have dome something in the past, or that you are currently doing something in the present. You can't feel shame about something you haven't yet done, can you?

If you feel excitement, it's very likely that it's because something good is going to happen in the future.
 
Is "I am ashamed of doing it now" correct? Meaning the "doing" part is happening now.
The grammar is OK. (See below.)

I'm ashamed that I lost my temper.

Did that person feel shame at that time?

It's a new concept to me to be ashamed of doing something you are currently doing. Instead, it is normally used to express regret over something.
 
The grammar is OK. (See below.)

I'm ashamed that I lost my temper.

Did that person feel shame at that time?

It's a new concept to me to be ashamed of doing something you are currently doing. Instead, it is normally used to express regret over something.
When do I say " I am ashamed to do/I am ashamed of doing"?
 
When do I say " I am ashamed to do/I am ashamed of doing"?
I have corrected your incorrect space after opening quotation marks over and over again yet you've done it again in this post. We really need to see that you're taking notice of our advice.
 
When do I say " I am ashamed to do/I am ashamed of doing"?
That's a good question. I'll try to answer it.

Not every verb works the same way. I can't envision saying I am ashamed of doing something. When a person say he is ashamed of himself he is expressing regret for a previous action. Not every verb works in the present progressive.
 
If you feel shame, it can only mean that either you have dome something in the past, or that you are currently doing something in the present. You can't feel shame about something you haven't yet done, can you?

If you feel excitement, it's very likely that it's because something good is going to happen in the future.
I was ashamed for my kids to break that vase/I am ashamed of my kids breaking the vase. Are both correct? Does "I was ashamed for my kids to break that vase" mean that the actions of feeling shame happen concurrently or that the breaking has just happened?
 
I'm ashamed that my kids broke the vase and I lied about it.

That's possible.
 
1. I was ashamed for my kids to break that vase. ❌
2.
I am ashamed of my kids breaking the vase. ✅

Are both correct?
As you can see above, the first is incorrect.
Does "I was ashamed for my kids to break that vase" mean that the actions of feeling shame happen concurrently or that the breaking has just happened?
It doesn't mean anything because it's incorrect. Also, "the actions of feeling shame happen concurrently" doesn't make sense. You've use "actions" but only mentioned one - "feeling shame".

It doesn't matter how long ago the breaking occurred. If you start with "I was ashamed", we know we're talking about the past.

I was ashamed of the fact that my kids broke the vase. (You were ashamed at some time in the past, at some point after your kids broke the vase. We only know that they broke it sometime before you felt ashamed.)

I am ashamed of the fact that my kids broke the vase. (You're ashamed now that your kids broke the vase in the past. It doesn't matter when they did it.)
 
As you can see above, the first is incorrect.

It doesn't mean anything because it's incorrect. Also, "the actions of feeling shame happen concurrently" doesn't make sense. You've use "actions" but only mentioned one - "feeling shame".

It doesn't matter how long ago the breaking occurred. If you start with "I was ashamed", we know we're talking about the past.

I was ashamed of the fact that my kids broke the vase. (You were ashamed at some time in the past, at some point after your kids broke the vase. We only know that they broke it sometime before you felt ashamed.)

I am ashamed of the fact that my kids broke the vase. (You're ashamed now that your kids broke the vase in the past. It doesn't matter when they did it.)
Does "I am ashamed of my kids having broken the vase" work the same?
 
Does "I am ashamed of my kids having broken the vase" work the same?
As you can see above, the first is incorrect.

It doesn't mean anything because it's incorrect. Also, "the actions of feeling shame happen concurrently" doesn't make sense. You've use "actions" but only mentioned one - "feeling shame".

It doesn't matter how long ago the breaking occurred. If you start with "I was ashamed", we know we're talking about the past.

I was ashamed of the fact that my kids broke the vase. (You were ashamed at some time in the past, at some point after your kids broke the vase. We only know that they broke it sometime before you felt ashamed.)

I am ashamed of the fact that my kids broke the vase. (You're ashamed now that your kids broke the vase in the past. It doesn't matter when they did it.)
Do you agree with this explanation?
  • "I am ashamed to be late." (You feel ashamed about the fact that you are late right now or in this particular instance.)
  • "She is ashamed to be seen crying." (Shame about being seen in that state.)

Ashamed of being + [gerund]​

  • Focuses on a more general or ongoing characteristic, quality, or habit.
  • Expresses shame about the state as an ongoing condition, something more permanent or repeated.
  • Uses "of being" with the gerund because it talks about the state as a continuous or habitual thing.
Example:

  • "I am ashamed of being late." (You feel ashamed about the fact that being late is something you do regularly or a trait you have.)
 
I think "embarrassed" is more likely in your scenarios.
 
I'm ashamed of doing that yesterday.
I'm ashamed of having done that yesterday.
I was ashamed of doing that yesterday.

I was ashamed of having done that yesterday.
----------------------------

[ In the present ]
[ In the past ]
What is the difference between "I am ashamed to have done that yesterday/"I am ashamed of having done that yesterday"
 

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top