You'll be disappointed by the things that you didn't do/you haven't done (made)

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Can I also say “… by the things that you haven’t done (or made, maybe) than by the ones you have done (made)”?

Thanks in advance.

2

Yes, though by changing the tense you change the exact meaning

  • ‘made’ doesn’t work for most situations though.
3

Hi Beeesneees,

To make sure that I understand the difference between the two sentences, I revised the second sentence. (It might be wordy. But I still use the present perfect tense).
Could you please help me check whether it has a closer meaning to the original one’s?

  • Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you haven’t tried to do than by the ones you have tried (to do).

Thank you.

Justin

4

Your sentence is correct, but you have changes the root verb, so the meaning is not quite the same.