would have loved to attend

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'would have loved to attend' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express regret about missing an event or something you were invited to. For example: "I was invited to the birthday party, but I couldn't make it. I would have loved to attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The closing Sunday night show will be the band's first performance at a UK music festival – a festival that guitarist Brian May says the former frontman Freddie Mercury would have loved to attend.

The Guardian - Music

Last week in a warehouse at 455 West 19th Street in Chelsea owned by the foundation he formed many years before his death, a political convention of sorts was taking shape that Rauschenberg undoubtedly would have loved to attend, miniature flag in hand.

The New York Times - Arts

Lisa Wainwright, dean of faculty and vice president of academic administration, who sits on the committee that decides honorary degrees, told the Chicago Tribune that she had decided to honour West after reading an interview with him in which he said that he would have loved to attend SAIC.

The Guardian - Music

"Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I love and treasured," the former cleric said in a statement, "it would have been disrespectful to Tata to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral".

The Guardian

One of the most vocal campaigners for the release of Mandela during his imprisonment, Tutu said in a statement on Saturday: "Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata [Mandela] to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I would have loved to see you.

WikiHow

I dedicate this recognition to my beloved parents, who would have loved to be with me attending the award ceremony, but are not able to.

Yale University

King said he would have loved to stay and talk "because I have a lot to say on this topic," but insisted he had a meeting to attend.

Huffington Post

Otherwise I would have loved to comment.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I would have loved to have told Stanley about this.

The New York Times - Science

"I would have loved to have gotten a great finish.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have loved to attend" to politely express your regret when you were unable to participate in an event. This phrase acknowledges the invitation and conveys your sincere desire to have been present.

Common error

Avoid using "would have loved to attend" when you are currently able to attend an event. It implies a past missed opportunity, not a present possibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have loved to attend" functions as a polite expression of regret regarding a missed opportunity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and examples show its use in acknowledging invitations and expressing sincere desire to have been present.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have loved to attend" is a grammatically correct and polite way to express regret for missing an event. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness, and its usage spans across News & Media, Academia, and Science, although it is considered a less frequent expression. To ensure clarity, avoid using it when you are still able to attend, as it implies a missed past opportunity. Consider alternatives like "I wish I could have been there" or "I'm sorry I couldn't make it" for varied expressions of regret.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I wish I could have been there

Expresses a wish to have attended, focusing on absence.

I regret missing it

Directly expresses regret for not attending.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it

Offers an apology for non-attendance.

I would have enjoyed being there

Focuses on the anticipated enjoyment of attending.

I was disappointed to miss it

Highlights the disappointment of missing the event.

I'd have jumped at the chance to attend

Emphasizes eagerness and missed opportunity.

I was keen to be present

Expresses a strong desire to have been present.

It's a pity I couldn't be there

Notes the unfortunate circumstance of non-attendance.

I'd have relished the opportunity to go

Highlights the enjoyment that would have been gained.

I was looking forward to attending

Indicates prior anticipation and subsequent disappointment.

FAQs

How can I use "would have loved to attend" in a sentence?

You can use "would have loved to attend" to express regret for missing an event: "I would have loved to attend your wedding, but I had a prior commitment."

What's a more informal way to say "would have loved to attend"?

Informally, you could say "I wish I could have been there" or "I'm bummed I missed it" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "would of loved to attend"?

No, "would of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "would have", which can be contracted to "would've".

What can I say instead of "would have loved to attend" to express desire?

Alternatives include phrases such as "I wish I could have been there", or "I regret missing it" depending on the context.