Lamentar Conjugation: Express Regret in Spanish + Quiz
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What is Lamentar? The Verb for Expressing Regret
Mastering the Spanish verb lamentar is essential for expressing regret, sorrow, and sympathy in formal and personal contexts. This verb carries a tone of formal apology and genuine sorrow, making it crucial for professional communication and sincere apologies.
Key Takeaways:
- Primary Meaning: To regret, to be sorry, to lament.
- Key Use: Expressing formal regret, sympathy, or sorrow.
- Must-Know Conjugation:
Lamento que...(I regret that…). - Grammar Tip: When expressing regret with
lamentar que, it’s followed by the subjunctive mood. - Common Structure:
Lamentar + inf.(to regret doing something),Lamentar la pérdida(to mourn the loss).
Complete Lamentar Conjugation: The Essential Tenses
Present Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | lamento | Lamento las molestias ocasionadas. (I regret the inconvenience caused.) |
| Tú | lamentas | ¿Lamentas tus decisiones pasadas? (Do you regret your past decisions?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | lamenta | La empresa lamenta el error. (The company regrets the error.) |
| Nosotros | lamentamos | Lamentamos informarle que… (We regret to inform you that…) |
| Vosotros | lamentáis | Lamentáis no haber estudiado más. (You regret not having studied more.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | lamentan | Ellos lamentan la pérdida del empleo. (They regret the job loss.) |
Past Tenses: Preterite vs. Imperfect
Preterite Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | lamenté | Lamenté inmediatamente mis palabras. (I immediately regretted my words.) |
| Tú | lamentaste | Lamentaste haberlo dicho. (You regretted having said it.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | lamentó | Él lamentó su actitud demasiado tarde. (He regretted his attitude too late.) |
| Nosotros | lamentamos | Lamentamos no haber venido antes. (We regretted not having come earlier.) |
| Vosotros | lamentasteis | Lamentasteis la oportunidad perdida. (You all regretted the lost opportunity.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | lamentaron | Lamentaron su falta de acción. (They regretted their lack of action.) |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | lamentaba | Siempre lamentaba mis errores demasiado. (I always used to regret my mistakes too much.) |
| Tú | lamentabas | Cuando eras joven, lamentabas cada pequeña cosa. (When you were young, you would regret every little thing.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | lamentaba | Ella lamentaba no haber viajado más. (She regretted not having traveled more.) |
| Nosotros | lamentábamos | Lamentábamos no tener más tiempo. (We regretted not having more time.) |
| Vosotros | lamentabais | Lamentabais vuestras elecciones de carrera. (You all regretted your career choices.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | lamentaban | Lamentaban las oportunidades perdidas. (They regretted the lost opportunities.) |
Future Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | lamentaré | Lamentaré esta decisión más tarde. (I will regret this decision later.) |
| Tú | lamentarás | Lamentarás no haber escuchado. (You will regret not having listened.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | lamentará | Ella lamentará sus palabras. (She will regret her words.) |
| Nosotros | lamentaremos | Lamentaremos esta oportunidad perdida. (We will regret this lost opportunity.) |
| Vosotros | lamentaréis | Lamentaréis no haber aprovechado el tiempo. (You will regret not having made the most of the time.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | lamentarán | Lamentarán su falta de visión. (They will regret their lack of vision.) |
Present Subjunctive Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | lamente | Es triste que yo lamente tanto el pasado. (It’s sad that I regret the past so much.) |
| Tú | lamentes | No quiero que lamentes esta decisión. (I don’t want you to regret this decision.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | lamente | Espero que ella no lamente su elección. (I hope she doesn’t regret her choice.) |
| Nosotros | lamentemos | Ojalá que no lamentemos nuestras acciones. (I hope we don’t regret our actions.) |
| Vosotros | lamentéis | Es posible que lamentéis no haber actuado. (It’s possible you’ll regret not having acted.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | lamenten | Dudo que lamenten su comportamiento. (I doubt they regret their behavior.) |
Verbals: Gerund & Infinitive
| Form | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | lamentando | Sigo lamentando mi decisión. (I keep regretting my decision.) |
| Infinitive | lamentar | Voy a lamentar esto para siempre. (I am going to regret this forever.) |
Imperative (Command) Conjugation
Affirmative Commands
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | lamenta | ¡Lamenta tus actos! (Regret your actions!) |
| Usted | lamente | ¡Lamente su falta de responsabilidad! (Regret your lack of responsibility!) |
| Nosotros | lamentemos | ¡Lamentemos juntos nuestros errores! (Let’s regret our mistakes together!) |
| Vosotros | lamentad | ¡Lamentad vuestra indiferencia! (Regret your indifference!) |
| Ustedes | lamenten | ¡Lamenten su oportunidad perdida! (Regret your lost opportunity!) |
Negative Commands
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | no lamentes | ¡No lamentes el pasado! (Don’t regret the past!) |
| Usted | no lamente | ¡No lamente sus decisiones! (Don’t regret your decisions!) |
| Nosotros | no lamentemos | ¡No lamentemos lo que hicimos! (Let’s not regret what we did!) |
| Vosotros | no lamentéis | ¡No lamentéis vuestra juventud! (Don’t regret your youth!) |
| Ustedes | no lamenten | ¡No lamenten sus elecciones! (Don’t regret your choices!) |
[SEE THE FULL LAMENTAR CONJUGATION IN ALL TENSES WITH OUR INTERACTIVE TOOL]
How to Use Lamentar in Context
Expressing Formal Regret and Apology
- Lamento mucho las molestias. (I deeply regret the inconvenience.)
- Lamentamos informarle que su solicitud fue denegada. (We regret to inform you that your application was denied.)
- La dirección lamenta el error cometido. (The management regrets the mistake made.)
Expressing Personal Regret and Sorrow
- Lamento no haber estudiado más. (I regret not having studied more.)
- ¿Lamentas haber tomado ese trabajo? (Do you regret having taken that job?)
- Lamentan no haber viajado cuando eran jóvenes. (They regret not having traveled when they were young.)
Common Phrases and Idioms with Lamentar
- Lamentar que (to regret that – + subjunctive)
- Lamentar + inf. (to regret doing something)
- Lamentar profundamente (to deeply regret)
- Lamentar la pérdida (to mourn the loss)
- Es de lamentar (it is to be regretted)
A Note on Culture & Common Mistakes
Cultural Insight: In Spanish-speaking cultures, using lamentar in formal contexts (business, official communications) shows professionalism and respect. It’s more formal than sentir for apologies. In personal contexts, it conveys deep, genuine sorrow rather than casual regret.
Watch Out! Remember that lamentar que expressing regret about a situation is always followed by the subjunctive mood.
- ✅ Correct:
Lamento que **tengas** que irte.(I regret that you have to leave.) - ❌ Incorrect:
Lamento que *tienes* que irte.
TAKE THE LAMENTAR CONJUGATION QUIZ
Spanish Verb “Lamentar” Conjugation Quiz
Level:
A (Basic)
B (Intermediate)
C (Advanced)
Verb “Lamentar” Tip: “Lamentar” means “to regret” or “to be sorry” in Spanish. It’s a regular -ar verb, making its conjugation patterns consistent across most tenses.
Study Tip: Remember that “lamentar” follows standard -ar verb conjugation patterns. The past participle is “lamentado” and the gerund is “lamentando”.
Need to review “lamentar”? Check out our complete “Lamentar” guide
Study Tip: Remember that “lamentar” follows standard -ar verb conjugation patterns. The past participle is “lamentado” and the gerund is “lamentando”.
Need to review “lamentar”? Check out our complete “Lamentar” guide
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Continue Learning: Next, learn to express importance with: [Importar Conjugation: Express Importance in Spanish]