To Regret vs Regretting Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To regret (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to regret" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I regret to swim in the race because I didn't train enough.

Regretting (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "regretting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Regretting my decision, I decided to withdraw from the race.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To regret (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To regret is a common feeling after making a mistake.

  To regret is a common feeling after making a mistake.

  • "*To regret*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common feeling after making a mistake).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't want me to regret my decision.

  She doesn't want me to regret my decision.

  • "Me *to regret* my decision" is the object of the verb "doesn't want."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't want) + noun phrase (me *to regret* my decision).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a break to regret my choices.

  I need a break to regret my choices.

  • "*To regret* my choices" modifies the noun "break."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a break *to regret* my choices).

Regretting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Regretting my actions, I apologized to everyone involved.

  Regretting my actions, I apologized to everyone involved.

  • "*Regretting* my actions" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (apologized) + noun phrase (to everyone involved).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys regretting her mistakes and learning from them.

  She enjoys regretting her mistakes and learning from them.

  • "*Regretting* her mistakes and learning from them" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*regretting* her mistakes and learning from them).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  I have no choice but regretting my decision.

  I have no choice but regretting my decision.

  • "No choice but *regretting* my decision" is the object of the preposition "but."
  • Noun phrase (I) + verb (have) + noun phrase (no choice but *regretting* my decision).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend
• choose

Example

They decided to regret their actions later.

He attempted to regret his words, but it was too late.

She refused to regret her mistakes and learned from them instead.

We pretended to regret the loss, but secretly we were relieved.

You can choose to regret your past or move on and create a better future.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• admit
• delay
• deny
• imagine
• miss

Example

He admitted regretting his actions and promised to make amends.

They delayed regretting their mistakes, which only made things worse.

She denies regretting her choices, but her actions speak otherwise.

I can't imagine regretting such a bold move in the future.

I miss regretting my past decisions because they made me who I am today.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to regret my choices. I don't like regretting my choices.

She started to regret her actions. She started regretting her actions.

They began to regret their decision. They began regretting their decision.