Regret

We use the word 'regret' in some distinctly different situations.

Sometimes regret is used in a rather formal apology because you expect someone else to be disappointed by your absence:
I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend the reception.
(Another less formal way to say this is "I'm sorry I will not be able to attend the reception.")

In more serious situations, it can be used as a threat:
If you do that to me again, you'll regret it!

Other times regret can be devastating. Did you ever say something or do something that damaged or destroyed a relationship? Did you feel that nagging ache inside, the empty feeling of loneliness? Did you hear "If only" echoing endlessly in your mind as you wished with all your heart that you could take back what you said, undo what you did?

Last year was a year of regret for me, the devastating regret of this last example. I hope you can avoid this kind of regret.

Cost, host, post, lost

Similar words with different forms in the past tense:

Cost:
How much did that cost?
It cost 3 dollars.

Lost:
I lost my keys!
When?
I lost them when I got home from work.

Post:
Do you like to post photos on Facebook?
Yes, I posted 3 yesterday.

Host:
Would you like to host our meeting this week?
No, I hosted it 2 weeks ago.

Did you notice that cost and lost rhyme and they have the same form in past tense? Post and host also rhyme and they have the same form in past tense. Maybe that will help you remember.

All/whole

The words 'all' and 'whole' sometimes mean the same thing, but they aren't used exactly the same way. You have to watch those pesky prepositions! Sometimes 'all' is combined with 'of' but 'whole' doesn't work that way.

You can say:
All my life, or
All of my life,

and you can say:
My whole life,
but not:
whole of my life

Example sentences:
I have lived in the US all my life.
I have lived in the US all of my life.

I have lived in the US my whole life.
It was the best time I’ve had in my whole life.
My whole life has been an adventure.

I spent the whole day talking online.
I spend almost all my time alone.
I spend almost all of my time alone.

This whole exercise is about 'whole' and 'all'. I hope all of it, the whole thing, is helpful to you.
That's all!

Have/have got

From an American English point of view, here are some examples of correct use of 'have' and 'have got'.

Example 1:
What have you got there, John?
I've got a new watch.

OR

What do you have there, John?
I have a new watch.

Example 2:
I have got to get a new job.

OR

I have to get a new job.

Example 3:
I haven't got a clue.

OR

I don't have a clue.
(Here the Brits might say, "I haven't a clue.")

Have you got any suggestions or questions?
Do you have any suggestions or questions?

Future perfect

I have 10 states left to visit, and then I will have visited all 50 states in the US.
By the time my grandson is 2 years old, I will have flown to Poland a dozen times (I hope!).
If I remain with the same company until I retire, I will have worked there for more than 40 years.
When my wife retires, she will have worked at the library for more than 20 years.
By the end of the week I will have walked down every street in my neighborhood this year.

By the time you read this I will have gone to work.

Had been talking

I had been talking on-line with my friend for 3 hours when I realized I had to run an errand. We agreed that it seemed we had been talking only a few minutes. Time flies when you're having fun.

We had been thinking about trying to connect again later that day, but the internet connection was unbelievably bad. I had been telling her a funny story earlier that day, and I wanted to have a chance to finish it. We could have talked for another 3 hours!

If we hadn't been planning this long chat all week, it wouldn't have been so disappointing. After all, we had worked and studied hard every day. We thought we deserved a break from the routine. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, but we were grateful for the time we had.

Would have been

I would have been posting new entries more often, but I've been busy. I should have known that being a grandfather would take a bit of my time. I would never have guessed it could be so much fun! Unfortunately, it has been hard to manage my time and fulfill other responsibilities.

If I had thought about it, I could have planned ahead to get some things finished around the house before my grandson arrived. As it is, I'll probably spend the winter wishing I had finished them!

My daughter had told me sometime ago that she would bring the baby to visit me at work. Yesterday was that day. I have seldom felt such pride, holding him, listening to co-workers (especially the ladies) say how cute he is, and that I looked like a good grampa.

Would you have ever guessed that the past perfect tense could be so interesting? :-)