Use having + the past participle to point at an action that happened before the main verb. It shows you are looking back at the earlier action: "I regret having said that" means the saying came first, and the regret comes now. To make it negative, put not in front: "She admitted not having read the contract." This pattern is fairly formal — you meet it most in writing, reports, and careful speech.
having + past participle: a step back in time
I regret having said those words.
She denied having taken the money.
She admitted not having read the contract.
Not "I regret to have said those words." — say "I regret having said those words.". For an earlier action you look back on, use having + the past participle, not the "to have" form.
Try it: Diego admitted ___ the report without checking the figures. (having submitted / to have submitted / having submit) Answer: having submitted — For an earlier action, use having + the past participle: having submitted. "To have submitted" uses the to-form, but admit takes the -ing pattern here, not the to-form. "Having submit" keeps the base verb after having, but having always needs the past participle: submitted.
having made vs making: is the action earlier?
Both the plain gerund (making) and the perfect gerund (having made) can follow these verbs, so which do you pick? Use the plain -ing form when the action happens at the same time as the main verb, or when the order is already obvious. Reach for having + past participle only when you want to point explicitly at an earlier, finished action — and it always sounds a touch more formal. Ordered by timing:
• same time / obvious order → plain: making
• clearly earlier, formal emphasis → perfect: having made
In speech, "He admitted making a mistake" is perfectly natural; "having made" just sharpens that the mistake came first.
Same time → plain: "I remember feeling nervous as I spoke."
Clearly earlier → perfect: "I remember having locked the door before I left."
Order obvious, everyday speech → plain is fine: "She admitted taking the last seat."
Not "I remember having felt nervous the whole time I was speaking." — say "I remember feeling nervous the whole time I was speaking.". When the action runs at the same time as the main verb, use the plain -ing form; save having + past participle for an action that was clearly earlier.
Try it: Elena admitted ___ nervous during the interview — she felt it the whole time she was answering. (being / having been / having be) Answer: being — Her nervousness happened at the same time as the interview she is describing, so the plain -ing form fits: being nervous. "Having been" would push the nervousness to an earlier, finished time before the interview, which is not the meaning here. "Having be" is not a form — after having you always need the past participle (been), never the base verb.
The verbs that take this pattern
This having + past participle pattern follows verbs of remembering and owning up: regret, deny, admit, recall, remember, forget, mention. With these verbs, look for an earlier action and use having + the past participle. These verbs take the -ing side of the gerund/infinitive split, so the earlier-action form is having + past participle — never "to have" + past participle.
I don't recall having met her before.
He mentioned having visited that museum.
She forgot having promised to help.
Not "She denied to have taken it." — say "She denied having taken it.". After deny, use having + the past participle, not the "to have" form.
Try it: Mei doesn't recall ___ the email, though her name is on it. (having sent / to send / having send) Answer: having sent — Recall takes the having + past participle pattern for an earlier action: having sent. "To send" uses the to-form, which does not follow recall here. "Having send" keeps the base verb, but having needs the past participle: sent.
having been + past participle: when it's done TO you
When the action is done to the subject, make it passive: use having been + the past participle. "She resents having been ignored" means someone ignored her — she is on the receiving end. Keep been in the middle; that little word is what carries the done-to (passive) meaning. Like the active pattern, this is formal — at home in complaints, reports, and careful writing rather than casual chat.
He complained of having been overlooked for the promotion.
They denied having been warned about the risks.
She recalled having been told the office would close early.
Not "She resents having ignored at the meeting." — say "She resents having been ignored at the meeting.". For the done-to (passive) meaning, keep been: having been + the past participle — dropping it flips it to "she did the ignoring."
Try it: When the thing is done TO the subject, use having been + past participle. Which one fits? (She resents having been ignored at the meeting. / She resents having ignored at the meeting. / She resents to have been ignored at the meeting.) Answer: She resents having been ignored at the meeting. — When the action is done to her, use having been + the past participle: having been ignored. The second option drops been, which the done-to meaning needs — without it, it reads as though she did the ignoring. The third uses the to-form, but resent takes the -ing pattern, so it is having been ignored.