regret
Regret is a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or a missed opportunity. As a verb, it describes the act of feeling sorry about a past action or a failure to act.
Regret is the emotional realization that a different past choice could have led to a better present.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Feeling sad about past actions or missed opportunities.
- Functions as both a noun and a common verb.
- Used formally to deliver bad news or decline offers.
Summary
Regret is the emotional realization that a different past choice could have led to a better present.
- Feeling sad about past actions or missed opportunities.
- Functions as both a noun and a common verb.
- Used formally to deliver bad news or decline offers.
Using regret to deliver bad news
In professional emails, use 'We regret to inform you' to sound polite and objective when giving negative updates.
Don't mix up the gerund and infinitive
Saying 'I regret to buy this' sounds like you are about to buy it and feel sad, which is usually incorrect for past mistakes.
The 'No Regrets' Philosophy
In many English-speaking cultures, 'living with no regrets' is a popular modern mantra encouraging boldness and risk-taking.
Beispiele
4 von 4I regret not studying harder for my final exams.
We regret to announce the departure of our CEO.
I've got no regrets about moving to the city; it was the best choice.
The participants expressed significant regret regarding their financial decisions.
Wortfamilie
Merkhilfe
Think of the 'RE' in Regret as 'RE-visiting' a 'GRET' (great) mistake you made in the past.
Overview
Regret is a complex emotion that involves a retrospective look at one's choices or circumstances. It is characterized by the wish that one had acted differently in the past to achieve a better outcome. Unlike simple sadness, regret often carries a sense of personal responsibility. 2) Usage Patterns: As a verb, it follows two distinct grammatical paths. 'Regret + -ing' (gerund) refers to a past action the speaker is sorry for, such as 'I regret buying this car.' Conversely, 'Regret + to-infinitive' is almost exclusively used in formal contexts to deliver bad news, such as 'We regret to inform you that the flight is canceled.' As a noun, it is frequently used with the verb 'have' or 'express.' 3) Common Contexts: In personal life, it relates to relationships, education, or career choices. In professional settings, it is a polite tool for formal refusals or apologies. In literature and philosophy, it is often explored as a fundamental human experience regarding the passage of time. 4) Similar Words Comparison: While 'remorse' implies a deep moral guilt for a wrong committed against others, 'regret' is broader and can apply to harmless mistakes or missed chances that only affect oneself. 'Disappointment' is different because it can be caused by external factors beyond one's control, whereas regret usually implies one had a choice.
Nutzungshinweise
In speech, 'regret' is neutral. However, 'regret to [verb]' is very formal and rarely used in casual conversation except when being sarcastic. The noun 'regrets' is also used formally to decline an invitation (e.g., 'Please send my regrets').
Häufige Fehler
The most common error is using 'regret to [verb]' for past events. For example, saying 'I regret to go to that party' instead of 'I regret going to that party.' Another mistake is confusing the adjectives 'regrettable' (an unfortunate event) and 'regretful' (a person feeling sorry).
Merkhilfe
Think of the 'RE' in Regret as 'RE-visiting' a 'GRET' (great) mistake you made in the past.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Old French word 'regreter', which meant 'to bewail' or 'to lament the dead'.
Kultureller Kontext
In Western literature, regret is a central theme in 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, symbolizing the human tendency to wonder about the life we didn't choose.
Beispiele
I regret not studying harder for my final exams.
everydayWe regret to announce the departure of our CEO.
formalI've got no regrets about moving to the city; it was the best choice.
informalThe participants expressed significant regret regarding their financial decisions.
academicWortfamilie
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
much to my regret
with deep regret
live to regret
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Remorse is a stronger, more moral feeling of guilt for doing something wrong to someone else.
Repentance usually has a religious or spiritual context, involving a turning away from sin.
Grammatikmuster
Using regret to deliver bad news
In professional emails, use 'We regret to inform you' to sound polite and objective when giving negative updates.
Don't mix up the gerund and infinitive
Saying 'I regret to buy this' sounds like you are about to buy it and feel sad, which is usually incorrect for past mistakes.
The 'No Regrets' Philosophy
In many English-speaking cultures, 'living with no regrets' is a popular modern mantra encouraging boldness and risk-taking.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb.
I deeply ___ (tell) him the secret because now everyone knows.
We use the gerund (-ing) form to express sorrow over a past action.
Choose the most formal sentence.
Which sentence is appropriate for a formal rejection letter?
'Regret to inform' is the standard formal construction for bad news.
Reorder the words to form a logical sentence.
regrets / He / having / no / claims / to / have / .
This follows the standard Subject + Verb + Object structure for the noun 'regrets'.
Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 Fragen'Regret doing' refers to a past action you feel bad about. 'Regret to do' is a formal way to introduce bad news you are about to give.
It can range from mild annoyance over a small mistake to deep, life-altering sorrow over a major decision.
Yes, for example, 'My greatest regret is not traveling more when I was younger.'
No, 'regrettable' describes a situation that is sad (e.g., a regrettable mistake), while 'regretful' describes a person feeling the emotion.
