regret doing/regret to do

这两个句型的用法和所表达的意义是完全不同的。regret doing 通常表示对曾经做过的某事表示后悔或遗憾(即 doing 这个动作发生在 regret 之前)，而 regret to do 则表示对将要做某事表示遗憾(即 to do 这个动作发生在 regret 之后或同时)。请分析下面的例句：

1. I regret telling you that John stole it. (I regret that I told you that John stole it.) (CGEL) 我很后悔我告诉你约翰偷了它。

2. You will never regret seeing the film. 你看了这部电影,决不会后悔的。

3. We've always regretted selling the farm. 我们一直很后悔把农场卖了。

4. You'll regret having said those words! 你说了这样的话,你会后悔的!

5. I regretted saying it almost at once. (New Concept English, Book 2, L.41) 我几乎立刻就后悔说了那样的话。

6. I regret having called him a thief, but I regret even more his stealing my watch! (LDCE) 我很后悔把他叫做小偷，但我更后悔的是让他偷了我的表！

7. I regret to tell you that my father is ill. 我很遗憾地告诉你:我父亲病了。

8. I regret to say that we have no news for you. 我很遗憾地说:我们没有任何消息给你。

9. I regret to tell you that John stole it. (I regret that I am about to tell you that John stole it.)

(CGEL) 我遗憾地告诉你是约翰偷了它。

10. I regret to inform you that I am unable to help you. 我遗憾地通知你我爱莫能助。

[附注]有时候,regret doing并不表示对做过的事情表示后悔,而是对正在发生的事情表示遗憾(见上条):

I really regret leaving (= I am sorry that I have to leave) the party so early like this. 我真抱歉这样早就得离开聚会。