Simple gerund and Perfect gerund

[Volcano1985]

Without time-relationship indicators, however, there can often be a difference between a simple gerund and a perfect gerund. Sentences (k) and (l) have different meanings:

(k) I regret not meeting him earlier in my life.
(l) I regret not having met him earlier in my life.

What's the difference?

[Cgk]

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Hi Volcano1985,

since no one has replied to your question yet, I will give you my thoughts on this.

I understand these sentences like this:

"I regret not meeting him earlier in my life." The speaker regrets that he has not met him more often on a regular basis.
"I regret not having met him earlier in my life." The speaker regrets that he didn't meet him sooner. Apparently, "he" could have been somehow very useful to the speaker.

I don't know if what I think is correct since I'm not a native speaker and definitely no English guru. I hope one of the experts will explain the difference and correct me if I'm wrong. I'd be very interested to know myself!

Claudia

[Topaze]

Personally, I cannot discern any difference at all. The fact is, there IS a 'time-relationship indicator' in these two sentences (the words 'earlier in my life'), and it makes them sound the same for all intents and purposes, at least to me.

Then again, I'm neither a native speaker nor a teacher.

[Alan]

Hi Volcano,

Interesting question about whether you regret doing something or regret having done something. All I can say is that they both refer back to the past and the past participle suggests completion (action done or not done) and present participle suggests the action is still hanging in the air or not.

I don't know whether that makes sense!!

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Make or Do?

[Alan]

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Hi Volcano,

I think Claudia has given a very good explanation. I only wished I had thought of it, too.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A day in the life of a student teacher