不定詞と動名詞

*Sorry for disturbing you — could I speak to you for a moment?

【和訳】

邪魔をしてすまないが、ちょっと（私の）話しを聞いてくれ。

Sorry to disturb you — could I speak to you for a moment?

【要点】

これからすることについての申し訳なさや心苦しさを表す場合、sorry for -ing の形式を使うことはできない。Swan (1980).

【類例】

1) Sorry to have woken you up yesterday. / I'm sorry for waking you up [for having waking woken you up] yesterday. / I'm sorry that I woke you up yesterday.

2) I was interested to read in the paper that scientists have found out how the universe began. [= I wanted to read in the paper that scientists have found out how the universe began. / I was interested by reading in the paper that scientists have found out how the universe began.]

3) I was interested in reading in the paper that scientists have found out how the universe began. [= I wanted to read in the paper that scientists have found out how the universe began.] / I'm interested in working in Switzerland. Do you know anybody who could help me? [= I want to work in Switzerland. Do you know anybody who could help me?]

【出典】