---
title: regret — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «regret» in the school dictionary: To regret something is to feel sorry or sad about something you did or did not do, and wish it had been different. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# regret

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, it, Regret, We, I, She · **What happens:** regret, be, do, not do, wish, mean · **To what, where:** something, sad sorry feeling, polite formal writing, coat, snow, vase · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«regret» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [regret in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/regret.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To regret something is to feel sorry or sad about something you did or did not do, and wish it had been different.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:m1:1
# text = To regret something is to feel sorry or sad about something you did or did not do, and wish it had been different.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	regret	regret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obl	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	wish	wish	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
22	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux	_	_
23	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	24	cop	_	_
24	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | feel, sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **do** | past · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **wish** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 6 | **is** | past · perfect | it |  |  |  |  | different *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Regret is that sad, sorry feeling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:m2:1
# text = Regret is that sad, sorry feeling.
1	Regret	regret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Regret | sad sorry feeling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In polite, formal writing, «We regret…» means «We are sorry to say…».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:m3:1
# text = In polite, formal writing, «We regret…» means «We are sorry to say…».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	regret	regret	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	…	…	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	…	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** *in a quote* | present | We |  |  | polite formal writing |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present | We |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | to-infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I regret shouting at my brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x1:1
# text = I regret shouting at my brother.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	regret	regret	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at my brother | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She regretted not wearing her coat when it started to snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x2:1
# text = She regretted not wearing her coat when it started to snow.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	regretted	regret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **wear** | gerund | She *not said here* | her coat |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |
| 3 | **start** | past | coat | snow |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent snow=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He said sorry because he regretted breaking the vase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x3:1
# text = He said sorry because he regretted breaking the vase.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	regretted	regret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: apologize* | past | He |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **regret** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **break** | gerund | he *not said here* | the vase |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer vase=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try things now so you have no regrets later.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x4:1
# text = Try things now so you have no regrets later.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	1	advmod	_	_
4	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	regrets	regret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* | things |  |  | now |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | no regrets |  |  |  | late *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent regret=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We regret that the swimming pool is closed today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x5:1
# text = We regret that the swimming pool is closed today.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	regret	regret	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
9	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | present | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **close** | present · passive |  | the swimming pool |  |  | today |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox regretted being greedy when he lost his food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x6:1
# text = The fox regretted being greedy when he lost his food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	regretted	regret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	greedy	greedy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | past | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | the fox *not said here* |  |  |  |  | greedy *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **lose** | past | fox | fox's food |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was not long, however, before he had cause to regret his weakness.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:regret:x7:1
# text = It was not long, however, before he had cause to regret his weakness.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	however	however	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	cause	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	regret	regret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | however, long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | past · perfect | he |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **regret** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | his weakness |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer weakness=Stimulus |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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