Regrets Having Said That
Explore how perfect gerunds express regret, denial, and apologies about earlier actions, including subtle differences in timing and responsibility.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. יש להשלים את החסר
I regret ___ that remark during yesterday's meeting; it was needlessly harsh.
- having make
- having made
- had made
The remark came before the expression of regret.
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I regret having made that remark during yesterday's meeting; it was needlessly harsh.
The perfect gerund uses "having" plus a past participle to look back on an earlier action.
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2. יש לבחור את התשובה הנכונה
What does Noah dispute?
Noah admitted having read the draft but denied having circulated it.
- That he read the draft.
- That the draft existed.
- That he passed the draft on to others.
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- That he passed the draft on to others.
"Denied having circulated it" reports Noah's rejection of that claim; it does not establish whether his denial is true.
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3. יש להשלים את החסר
I apologize ___ having interrupted you before you could finish your objection.
- for
- to
- of
The gap introduces the action that caused the apology.
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I apologize for having interrupted you before you could finish your objection.
We apologize "for" an action and "to" a person: "I apologize to you for having interrupted."
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4. יש לבחור את התשובה הנכונה
Which statement preserves both the timing and the speaker's attitude?
I told the client yesterday, but I wish I had waited.
- I regret to tell the client that the decision has changed.
- I regret that I will have to tell the client soon.
- I regret having told the client so soon.
Show solution
- I regret having told the client so soon.
"Regret having told" looks back on a disclosure. "Regret to tell" typically introduces unwelcome news being delivered now.
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5. יש להשלים את החסר
The committee's report named only the consultant, although the decision had been collective. The consultant regretted ___ as solely responsible.
- having portrayed
- having been portraying
- having been portrayed
The consultant received this treatment rather than carrying it out.
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The committee's report named only the consultant, although the decision had been collective. The consultant regretted having been portrayed as solely responsible.
"Having been portrayed" is a passive perfect gerund: the earlier action affected the consultant.
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6. יש להשלים את החסר
I stayed silent when the allegation first surfaced. I regret ___ it then.
- having challenged
- not having challenged
- not having challenge
The speaker wishes they had acted instead of remaining silent.
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I stayed silent when the allegation first surfaced. I regret not having challenged it then.
"Not having challenged" expresses regret about an omission—something the speaker did not do.
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7. יש לבחור את התשובה הנכונה
What would express the same apology in a more conversational tone?
I apologize for having dismissed your concerns without examining the evidence.
- I'm sorry I brushed aside your concerns before checking the evidence.
- I'm sorry you dismissed my concerns without checking the evidence.
- I'm sorry I checked the evidence before dismissing your concerns.
Show solution
- I'm sorry I brushed aside your concerns before checking the evidence.
"I'm sorry I..." makes the same admission less formally. The speaker still accepts responsibility for dismissing the concerns without first checking.
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8. יש לבחור את התשובה הנכונה
What is the speaker claiming about that responsibility?
It was my job to warn the volunteers, and I deny having failed to do so.
- The speaker accepts that the volunteers received no warning.
- The speaker denies being responsible for warning the volunteers.
- The speaker promises to warn the volunteers later.
- The speaker claims to have fulfilled the duty to warn the volunteers.
The claim being rejected concerns a failure, not the warning itself.
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- The speaker claims to have fulfilled the duty to warn the volunteers.
Denying "having failed" rejects the claim that the duty was neglected. Here, the speaker claims to have given the warning.
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9. יש לבחור את התשובה הנכונה
What is the timeline, from earliest to latest?
Looking back on the inquiry, Dana recalled that the director had apologized for having withheld the report.
- Apologizing, withholding the report, Dana's recollection.
- Withholding the report, apologizing, Dana's recollection.
- Dana's recollection, withholding the report, apologizing.
- Withholding the report, Dana's recollection, apologizing.
Each perfect form looks back from a different point in the narrative.
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- Withholding the report, apologizing, Dana's recollection.
"Having withheld" places the withholding before the apology; "had apologized" places the apology before Dana's recollection.
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10. יש לבחור את התשובה הנכונה
What does the supervisor accept while disputing a separate allegation?
The supervisor denied having authorized the release but apologized for having been unclear about who could approve it.
- Responsibility for approving the release, but not for giving unclear guidance.
- That unclear guidance caused the release, but not that anyone approved it.
- Responsibility for unclear guidance, but not for authorizing the release.
- That the release was authorized, but not that it actually took place.
Show solution
- Responsibility for unclear guidance, but not for authorizing the release.
An apology can acknowledge one failing without admitting a separate allegation. The statement also leaves the actual cause of the release unstated.