Karamö, le prof virtuelLeçon 10 sur 15
Expressing regret and pity
Je sais exprimer en anglais un regret (sur ce que j'ai fait ou pas fait) et de la compassion ou de la pitié envers quelqu'un, avec des expressions adaptées à la situation.
- 45 min
- 5 exercices corrigés
- 1 schéma
- QCM de 5 questions
À la fin de la leçon, tu sauras :
- Exprimer la compassion et la pitié (I'm sorry to hear that, What a pity!, I feel sorry for…)
- Exprimer un regret avec regret, be sorry, should have, it's a pity that
- Distinguer regret + -ing et regret + to
- Répondre à une situation de la vie courante comme au BAC
Avant de commencer : Le present perfect, le past simple, le participe passé, les modaux should et could.
1Je découvre
Hawa appelle son amie Mariama, qui habite à Faranah :
« Hawa: Hi Mariama! Why weren't you at the wedding yesterday?
Mariama: I was sick. I had malaria.
Hawa: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! I hope you feel better now.
Mariama: Yes, thanks. I regret missing the wedding. I should have seen the doctor earlier.
Hawa: What a pity! It was a beautiful ceremony. »
Dans ce court échange, Hawa exprime sa compassion (I'm sorry to hear that) et sa déception pour son amie (What a pity!). Mariama, elle, exprime un regret sur ce qu'elle a fait ou pas fait (I regret missing…, I should have seen…).
Ces deux fonctions de communication se ressemblent, car elles utilisent souvent le mot sorry, mais elles ne disent pas la même chose. Au BAC, on te demandera de réagir à une situation : un ami a perdu un parent, un camarade a échoué, tu as oublié un rendez-vous…
Comment exprimer la pitié, la compassion et le regret en anglais, avec les bonnes expressions et la bonne grammaire ?
2Je comprends
1. Deux fonctions différentes
- La pitié / compassion (pity, sympathy) : on réagit au malheur ou à la déception de quelqu'un d'autre. On partage sa peine.
- Le regret (regret) : on est triste ou mécontent de ce qui s'est passé, souvent de ce qu'on a fait soi-même ou pas fait. On voudrait que ce soit différent.
- On réagit au malheur de l'autre
- I'm sorry to hear that.
- What a pity! What a shame!
- I feel sorry for him.
- Poor Sékou!
- On juge ce qui s'est passé
- I'm sorry I was late.
- I regret not studying harder.
- I should have listened to you.
- It's a pity I didn't come.
2. Exprimer la pitié et la compassion
| Expression | Emploi |
|---|---|
| What a pity! / What a shame! | petite déception (match annulé, examen raté) |
| That's a pity. / That's too bad. | |
| Oh dear! / Poor you! / Poor Fanta! | familier |
| I'm (so / very) sorry to hear that. | mauvaise nouvelle |
| I feel sorry for him / her. | j'ai de la peine pour lui / elle |
| I sympathise with you. | je compatis |
| It must be hard for you. | on imagine la difficulté |
| Please accept my condolences. / My deepest sympathy. | décès, formel |
Réponses possibles de la personne : Thank you. / That's kind of you. / Thanks for your sympathy.
Attention : What a pity! s'emploie pour une déception, pas pour un deuil. Pour un décès, on dit I'm so sorry for your loss ou Please accept my condolences. Choisir l'expression selon la gravité de la situation montre qu'on maîtrise la langue.
3. Exprimer le regret : les structures
a) Be sorry
- I'm sorry (that) + phrase : I'm sorry (that) I forgot your birthday.
- I'm sorry for + V-ing ou nom : I'm sorry for being late.
b) Regret : attention au sens !
- regret + V-ing (ou having + p.p.) = regretter une action passée : I regret leaving school so early. (je regrette d'avoir quitté l'école) ; à la forme négative : I regret not listening to my parents.
- regret + to + verbe de parole (say, tell, inform, announce) = « j'ai le regret de… » (annonce d'une mauvaise nouvelle, formel) : We regret to inform you that the trip is cancelled.
c) It's a pity / It's a shame (that)…
It's a pity (that) you couldn't come to the party.
It's a shame that the library closes so early.
d) Should have / shouldn't have + participe passé (regret, reproche sur le passé)
I should have revised more. (je n'ai pas assez révisé, je le regrette)
You shouldn't have spent all your money. (tu l'as dépensé, c'est dommage)
I could have won the race. (c'était possible, mais je n'ai pas gagné)
e) Unfortunately / Sadly / I'm afraid
Pour annoncer poliment une mauvaise nouvelle : Unfortunately, the bus to Kankan has left. I'm afraid I can't come tomorrow.
(La leçon suivante approfondira I wish et If only pour exprimer souhaits et regrets.)
Méthode
Pour réagir à une situation au BAC :
- Je lis la situation : est-ce le malheur de quelqu'un d'autre (pitié) ou une erreur passée (regret) ?
- J'évalue la gravité : petite déception (What a pity!), mauvaise nouvelle (I'm sorry to hear that), deuil (Please accept my condolences).
- Pour un regret, je choisis la structure : I regret + V-ing ; I'm sorry (that) + phrase ; I should have + p.p. ; It's a pity that + phrase.
- Je conjugue au bon temps (past simple ou participe passé pour le passé).
- J'ajoute si possible un mot de réconfort ou une résolution (I hope you feel better. Next time, I will…).
Exemple
What would you say in these situations?
a) Your friend tells you that his father is in hospital.
b) The football match you wanted to watch has been cancelled because of the rain.
c) You didn't bring your calculator to the maths test, and you couldn't finish.
a) Mauvaise nouvelle, compassion : I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope he gets better soon.
b) Petite déception : What a pity! I was really looking forward to that match.
c) Regret sur son action → should have + p.p. : I should have brought my calculator. / I regret forgetting my calculator.
Exemple
Rewrite each sentence using the words in brackets.
a) I didn't visit my grandmother before she moved to Kindia. I'm sad about it. (regret)
b) You didn't come to Aïssatou's birthday. That's sad. (It's a pity)
c) It was a mistake to lend my bicycle to him. (shouldn't have)
a) Regret d'une action passée non faite → regret + not + V-ing : I regret not visiting my grandmother before she moved to Kindia.
b) It's a pity (that) + phrase : It's a pity (that) you didn't come to Aïssatou's birthday.
c) Reproche à soi-même → shouldn't have + p.p. : I shouldn't have lent my bicycle to him.
4. Registre : familier ou formel ?
| Familier (amis, famille) | Formel (lettre, annonce officielle) |
|---|---|
| Oh no! Poor you! | Please accept my deepest sympathy. |
| That's too bad. | We regret to inform you that… |
| What a shame! | It is with great regret that… |
| I'm really sorry, my friend. | I sincerely regret the inconvenience. |
Dans une lettre de condoléances, on reste sobre : *I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of your father. Please accept my sincere condolences. My thoughts are with you and your family.*
3Je retiens
Je retiens
Pitié, compassion : What a pity! What a shame! That's too bad. I'm sorry to hear that. I feel sorry for him. It must be hard for you. Please accept my condolences (deuil).
Regret : I'm sorry (that) + phrase ; I'm sorry for + V-ing ; It's a pity (that) + phrase.
Regret + V-ing / not + V-ing = regretter une action passée.
Regret to + say / inform = avoir le regret d'annoncer (formel).
Should have / shouldn't have + participe passé = regret, reproche sur le passé.
Unfortunately…, I'm afraid… = annoncer poliment une mauvaise nouvelle.
4Erreurs fréquentes
- Confondre regret + -ing et regret + to : « I regret telling him » (je regrette de lui avoir dit) n'a pas le sens de « I regret to tell you » (j'ai le regret de vous dire).
- Écrire « I should have go » : on met le participe passé, « I should have gone ».
- Employer « What a pity! » pour un deuil : on dit « I'm so sorry for your loss » ou « Please accept my condolences ».
- Mal placer la négation avec regret : on écrit « I regret not going », pas « I regret to not go » ni « I don't regret going » (qui a le sens contraire).
5Je m’exerce
1Exercice 1
Pity or regret? Classify these sentences.
a) What a shame!
b) I regret not taking the job.
c) I feel sorry for the flood victims.
d) I should have called you.
e) It must be hard for you.
f) I'm sorry I shouted at you.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
Pity / sympathy: a), c), e). Regret: b), d), f).
2Exercice 2
Complete with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
a) I regret (not / go) to the meeting yesterday.
b) We regret (inform) you that your application has been refused.
c) You should have (tell) me the truth.
d) I'm sorry for (be) rude to you.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
a) I regret not going to the meeting yesterday.
b) We regret to inform you that your application has been refused. (annonce formelle)
c) You should have told me the truth.
d) I'm sorry for being rude to you.
3Exercice 3
What would you say in these situations?
a) Your classmate's house was damaged by a storm.
b) Your friend missed the bus to Labé by one minute.
c) You forgot to feed your little brother's goat, and it escaped.
d) A neighbour tells you that his mother died last week.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
Example answers:
a) I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be very hard for your family. Can I help you?
b) What a pity! You missed it by only one minute.
c) I'm really sorry. I should have fed the goat. / I regret forgetting to feed it.
d) I'm so sorry for your loss. Please accept my condolences.
4Exercice 4
Rewrite using the word(s) in brackets.
a) I'm sad that I didn't learn Arabic when I was young. (regret)
b) You ate too much. That was a mistake. (shouldn't have)
c) It's sad that Kadiatou can't come with us. (pity)
d) Lansana is sorry that he lost your book. (sorry for)
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
a) I regret not learning Arabic when I was young.
b) You shouldn't have eaten so much.
c) It's a pity (that) Kadiatou can't come with us.
d) Lansana is sorry for losing your book.
5Exercice 5
(BAC format) Read this letter and answer the questions.
Dear Fatoumata,
*I was very sorry to hear that you failed your BAC. What a pity, after all your hard work! I know how disappointed you must feel. I also regret not helping you more with your revision; I should have come to your house more often. But don't give up: you can try again next year, and I am sure you will succeed.*
Your friend, Aïssatou
a) Pick out two expressions of pity or sympathy.
b) Pick out two expressions of regret.
c) Why does Aïssatou feel sorry for Fatoumata?
d) What does Aïssatou regret?
e) Write Fatoumata's short reply (4 or 5 lines), thanking her friend and expressing one regret.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
a) I was very sorry to hear that…, What a pity, I know how disappointed you must feel.
b) I regret not helping you more, I should have come to your house more often.
c) Because Fatoumata failed her BAC after working hard.
d) She regrets not helping Fatoumata more with her revision.
e) Example answer:
Dear Aïssatou,
*Thank you very much for your kind letter. It helped me a lot. I regret spending too much time on my phone last year; I should have worked more regularly. This year, I will follow your advice and I will revise every day.*
Fatoumata
Cherche d’abord seul, sur ton cahier, puis ouvre le corrigé pour comparer.
6Je vérifie
Choisis une réponse pour chaque question : la correction s’affiche aussitôt.
Crée ton compte élève gratuit pour cocher les leçons terminées, suivre ta progression et gagner des points au QCM.
