Regret Doing vs Regret to Inform: Core Grammar Guide

Introduction to Regret Doing vs Regret to Inform

Understanding the difference between regret doing vs regret to inform is one of the most practical grammar skills you can master in English. While both forms use the verb regret, they point to entirely different timelines and serve distinct communication purposes. Using the wrong form can completely alter your meaning—turning a formal professional announcement into an admission of personal mistake, or vice versa.

When you say you regret doing something, you are expressing remorse or sadness about an action that happened in the past. On the other hand, when you use regret to inform (or state, say, announce), you are politely delivering bad news right now in the present moment.

In this complete guide, you will learn the exact grammatical rules governing gerunds and infinitives with regret, step-by-step decision rules, real-life examples across various contexts, common mistakes to avoid, and practice quizzes to solidify your knowledge.

Quick Reference Guide

The Core Grammar Rule: Gerunds vs. Infinitives with “Regret”

The verb regret belongs to a special class of English verbs (including remember, stop, and forget) that can be followed by either a gerund (the -ing form) or an infinitive (to + base verb). However, changing the form radically changes the time frame and context.

TIMELINE OF REGRET DOING (Past Action):
[ Past Action Occurs ] ---> [ Time Passes ] ---> [ You Feel Regret NOW ]

TIMELINE OF REGRET TO INFORM (Present Action):
[ You Feel Regret NOW ] === (Happens Simultaneously) ===> [ You Deliver News NOW ]

1. Regret + Gerund (Regret Doing)

When regret is followed by a gerund, the gerund represents an action that occurred in the past. You are looking back in time and wishing you had made a different choice.

• Structure: Subject + Regret(s) + [Verb + -ing]
• Alternative Form: Subject + Regret(s) + [Having + Past Participle] (used for extra emphasis on completed past actions).

Example: She regrets shouting at her brother yesterday.
(First, she shouted. Later, she felt sorry about it.)

2. Regret + Infinitive (Regret to Inform / Say / Tell)

When regret is followed by an infinitive, the infinitive represents an action happening right now. In modern English, this pattern is almost exclusively restricted to verbs of communication, such as inform, tell, say, announce, state, or leave.

• Structure: Subject + Regret(s) + to + [Base Verb of Communication]

Example: We regret to inform you that the office is closed today.
(We are sorry that we must give you this news right now.)

Step-by-Step Decision Guide: Which One Should You Use?

Follow this simple 3-step decision tree whenever you are unsure whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after regret:

           [ Step 1: Identify the main verb after 'regret' ]
                                  |
            +---------------------+---------------------+
            |                                           |
    Is the verb a communication                 Is the verb an everyday
    verb like inform, say, tell?                 action (buy, sell, speak)?
            |                                           |
            v                                           v
[ Step 2: Did the action already happen? ]    [ Step 2: Use the GERUND (-ing) ]
            |                                           |
      +-----+-----+                                     v
      |           |                              "I regret eating that entire pizza."
     NO          YES
      |           |
      v           v
[ Use TO ]   [ Use -ING ]
      |           |
      v           v
"We regret   "I regret informing
 to inform   him too early."
  you..."

1. Ask: Did the action already happen in the past?
   • Yes: Use Regret + -ing. (“I regret leaving early.”)
   • No: Go to Step 2.
2. Ask: Are you delivering news or an announcement right now?
   • Yes: Use Regret + to + verb (usually inform, say, tell). (“We regret to tell you…”)
   • No: Re-evaluate your sentence structure; you likely need a past gerund form.

Comprehensive Example Library

To build complete mastery, examine how these structures operate across different categories and environments.

1. Basic Examples

1. Correct: I regret eating that extra slice of cake. (Gerund – Past action)
2. Correct: We regret to inform you that your reservation is canceled. (Infinitive – Present announcement)
3. Correct: He regrets selling his vintage car. (Gerund – Past action)
4. Correct: The museum regrets to announce that the exhibit is closed. (Infinitive – Formal news)
5. Correct: Do you regret moving to a bigger city? (Gerund – Past action)
6. Correct: I regret to say that I cannot attend the party. (Infinitive – Present decline)
7. Correct: They regret not spending more time together. (Negative Gerund – Past action)
8. Correct: Management regrets to state that prices will increase. (Infinitive – Formal statement)
9. Correct: She regrets missing her morning workout. (Gerund – Past action)
10. Correct: I regret to tell you that the tickets are sold out. (Infinitive – Delivering bad news)

2. Intermediate Examples

11. Correct: Mark regrets not studying harder for his final examinations.
12. Correct: We regret to inform all passengers that Flight 402 has been delayed.
13. Correct: Sarah deeply regrets losing her temper during the team meeting.
14. Correct: The board regrets to report a slight drop in quarterly revenue.
15. Correct: I regret spending so much money on trendy clothes last year.
16. Correct: The committee regrets to inform candidates that interviews are postponed.
17. Correct: Do you ever regret choosing computer science as your major?
18. Correct: The school regrets to announce the departure of Principal Adams.
19. Correct: He regrets having ignored his doctor’s advice years ago. (Perfect gerund)
20. Correct: We regret to advise that network maintenance will occur tonight.

3. Advanced Examples

21. Correct: Having analyzed the long-term impact, the CEO expressed that he did not regret restructuring the division.
22. Correct: It is with great reluctance that the selection panel regrets to inform you that another candidate was chosen.
23. Correct: The diplomat later regretted making those controversial remarks to the press.
24. Correct: We regret to notify shareholders that dividend payouts will be suspended for this fiscal quarter.
25. Correct: She openly regrets having spent her youth prioritizing work over personal relationships.
26. Correct: The university administration regrets to announce the temporary closure of the campus library.
27. Correct: Rarely do entrepreneurs regret taking calculated risks, even when those ventures fail.
28. Correct: The department regrets to state that applications submitted after midnight will be rejected without review.
29. Correct: He regrets compromising his core values for short-term financial gain.
30. Correct: The organizers regret to convey that the outdoor concert has been canceled due to severe weather.

4. Real-World Context Breakdown

A. Daily Conversation Examples

• “I really regret buying these cheap shoes; my feet hurt!”
• “She regrets staying up so late watching TV.”
• “I regret to say this, but I don’t think we can afford that trip.”
• “Do you regret leaving your old job?”
• “I regret telling him my secret; he told everyone!”

B. Academic Writing Examples

• “Many scholars regret prioritizing theoretical models over empirical observations in early studies.”
• “The research team regrets to report that the initial trial yielded inconclusive data.”
• “Historical analyses show that the government later regretted passing the controversial policy.”
• “We regret to inform the academic review board that the experiment must be restarted.”
• “Participants who regretted withdrawing from the study were allowed to re-enroll.”

C. Business & Email Writing Examples

• “Dear Applicant, We regret to inform you that we have selected another candidate for the position.”
• “Our company regrets taking on that overly ambitious contract without adequate staffing.”
• “We regret to announce that our customer support line will be offline this Sunday.”
• “The executive team regrets not adopting cloud technology sooner.”
• “Please accept our apologies; we regret to state that your shipment has been lost.”

D. Student & ESL Learner Examples

• “I regret forgetting my homework at home today.”
• “The teacher regrets to inform us that we have a pop quiz.”
• “Maria regrets not practicing her English pronunciation more often.”
• “We regret to say that our group presentation is not ready.”
• “He regrets sleeping through his alarm morning after morning.”

Correct vs. Incorrect Comparisons

To ensure you don’t make common slip-ups, review these contrastive pairs:

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Using “Regret to Inform” for Past Actions

• Incorrect: I regret to inform him yesterday about the accident.
• Why it’s wrong: “Regret to inform” is used when giving information right now. If the action of informing happened in the past, use the past tense of inform or a gerund structure depending on context.
• Correction: I regret informing him yesterday about the accident. OR I regretted having to inform him yesterday.

Mistake 2: Misplacing the Negative Word “Not”

• Incorrect: I regret doing not my assignment.
• Incorrect: I regret to not inform you.
• Correction (Past Gerund): I regret not doing my assignment.
• Correction (Infinitive): We regret not to have… (Better: We regret to inform you that we cannot…)

Mistake 3: Overusing “Regret to [Verb]” with Everyday Verbs

• Incorrect: I regret to eat that entire tub of ice cream.
• Why it’s wrong: Native English speakers almost never use regret to [verb] with physical or personal actions like eat, run, buy, or sleep.
• Correction: I regret eating that entire tub of ice cream.

Memory Tricks & Easy Rules

To easily remember which form to use, keep these two mental associations in mind:

1. The “Flashback” Rule (Gerund / -ING)
   • Think of -ING as “In the Past Going back.”
   • When you look backward at a memory or past mistake, attach -ing.
   • Example: Memory $\rightarrow$ Regret talk-ing back.
2. The “Official Letter” Rule (Infinitive / TO)
   • Think of TO as “Today’s Official news.”
   • If you are writing a formal letter or email to deliver bad news, use to.
   • Example: Formal Letter $\rightarrow$ Regret to inform.

Practice Exercises

Exercise A: Complete the Sentences

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses (Gerund or Infinitive).

1. We regret ___________ (inform) you that your flight has been canceled.
2. She deeply regrets ___________ (not take) the job offer in Chicago.
3. I regret ___________ (tell) you that the store is out of stock.
4. He regrets ___________ (spend) all his savings on video games.
5. The university regrets ___________ (announce) a tuition increase for next semester.

Exercise B: Sentence Correction

Identify and correct the mistake in each sentence below.

1. I regret to leave my umbrella at home today because now it is raining.
2. We regret informing all clients that our office will be closed on Monday.
3. Do you regret to choose this major over art history?
4. The manager regrets not to hire the second candidate.
5. I regret to say him the bad news yesterday.

5-Question Quiz

Test your understanding with this quick assessment:

1. Fill in the blank: “The airline regrets _______ passengers that luggage processing is delayed.”
a) informing
b) to inform
c) inform
d) informed

2. Which sentence expresses regret about a past action?
a) We regret to state that the show is canceled.
b) I regret to tell you that you failed the exam.
c) She regrets shouting at her team during the meeting.
d) The company regrets to announce a delay.

3. Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
a) I regret to buy those expensive shoes yesterday.
b) We regret to inform you that your application was not successful.
c) He regrets to not go to university.
d) They regret to losing the match.

4. What is the main structural difference between “regret doing” and “regret to inform”?
a) “Regret doing” is formal; “regret to inform” is informal.
b) “Regret doing” refers to a past action; “regret to inform” refers to a present announcement.
c) “Regret doing” uses an infinitive; “regret to inform” uses a gerund.
d) There is no structural difference; they mean the exact same thing.

5. Complete the sentence: “I regret _______ so much money on my last vacation.”
a) to spend
b) spending
c) spend
d) to spending

Answer Keys & Explanations

Practice Exercise A Answers

1. to inform (Delivering news in the present)
2. not taking (Reflecting on a past decision)
3. to tell (Delivering news in the present)
4. spending (Reflecting on a past action)
5. to announce (Formal present announcement)

Practice Exercise B Answers

1. Correction: I regret leaving my umbrella at home today… (Past action)
2. Correction: We regret to inform all clients that our office will be closed… (Present formal notification)
3. Correction: Do you regret choosing this major… (Past decision)
4. Correction: The manager regrets not hiring the second candidate. (Negating a past gerund)
5. Correction: I regret telling him the bad news yesterday. (Past action)

Quiz Answers

1. b) to inform — Used for formal present announcements.
2. c) She regrets shouting at her team during the meeting. — Uses the gerund shouting to refer to a past event.
3. b) We regret to inform you that your application was not successful. — Correct standard formal construction.
4. b) “Regret doing” refers to a past action; “regret to inform” refers to a present announcement. — Accurately defines the temporal and functional difference.
5. b) spending — The spending occurred in the past, requiring a gerund.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is “regret to inform” only used in formal writing?

Yes, regret to inform (as well as regret to say/tell/state) is primarily used in formal spoken or written communication—such as business emails, rejection letters, and public announcements. In informal speech, people usually say “I’m sorry to tell you…” or “I hate to say this, but…”

2. Can I say “I regret having done something”?

Yes! Using regret + having + past participle (e.g., “I regret having said that”) is a grammatically correct form called the perfect gerund. It places extra emphasis on the fact that the action was completed in the past. It means the same thing as “I regret saying that.”

3. What is the difference between “I regret telling you” and “I regret to tell you”?

• “I regret telling you” means: I already told you something in the past, and now I wish I hadn’t.
• “I regret to tell you” means: I am about to tell you something bad right now, and I am sorry to have to share it.

4. Can “regret to” be used with verbs other than inform, tell, or say?

While it is grammatically possible in older English, modern English restricts regret + infinitive almost exclusively to communication verbs like inform, tell, say, announce, state, notify, and report. Using it with general action verbs (like eat, go, buy) sounds natural only when using the gerund form (regret going, regret buying).

5. How do I make “regret doing” negative?

Place the word not directly before the gerund (-ing verb). For example: “I regret not studying harder” or “She regrets not saving more money.”

Grammar Summary ( Cheat Sheet)

Teacher & Student Resource: Copy and save this summary box for quick offline reference.

===================================================================
             GRAMMAR CHEAT SHEET: REGRET DOING VS REGRET TO INFORM
===================================================================

1. REGRET + GERUND (-ING)
   - Usage: Remorse about an action in the PAST.
   - Pattern: Subject + regret(s) + [verb + -ing]
   - Example: I regret buying that car. (I bought it -> now I feel bad)
   - Negative: Subject + regret(s) + NOT + [verb + -ing]
   - Example: I regret not going to college.

2. REGRET + INFINITIVE (TO + VERB)
   - Usage: Delivering bad news in the PRESENT (Formal).
   - Verbs used: inform, say, tell, announce, state, report, notify.
   - Pattern: Subject + regret(s) + to + [verb]
   - Example: We regret to inform you that the office is closed.

QUICK TEST:
- Looking back at a past mistake? --------> Use GERUND (-ing)
- Writing a formal email with bad news? -> Use INFINITIVE (to inform)
===================================================================

Conclusion

Understanding regret doing vs regret to inform comes down to recognizing time and intent. When you look back at past choices with sadness, use the gerund (-ing). When you are writing formal emails or public announcements to share unfortunate news, use the infinitive (to inform). mastering this simple distinction elevates both your everyday English conversations and your professional written communication.

Did this guide clear up your confusion about gerunds and infinitives? Share this article with a fellow English learner or student! Don’t forget to bookmark our Grammar Hub for more clear, practical English usage guides.

Disclaimer

This educational article is intended solely for informational and language-learning purposes. While grammar rules follow standard US/UK convention frameworks, stylistic preferences in business writing may vary by institution or regional style guides.

Also READ: Try Doing vs Try to Do Difference: Grammar Guide

Stop Doing vs Stop To Do Difference: Clear Grammar Rules

About The Author

admin

See author's posts