Questions & Answers about Очень жаль, но я не могу.
Why is there no word for 'I' before очень жаль, even though the translation says 'I am very sorry'?
Жаль is an impersonal word that literally means 'it is a pity.' To specify who feels sorry, you normally use the dative pronoun мне (to me). However, native speakers often drop мне when it is completely obvious who is talking, especially since the second half of this sentence explicitly says я (I).
How would I change очень жаль to the past or future tense?
Because it is an impersonal expression, you use the neuter forms было for the past and будет for the future. 'I was very sorry' becomes мне было очень жаль, and 'I will be very sorry' becomes мне будет очень жаль.
Could I use очень жаль to apologize if I accidentally bump into someone on the street?
No, жаль is used to express sympathy, regret, or disappointment, like saying 'what a pity' or turning down an invitation. If you cause an accident or make a mistake, you must use извините or простите (excuse me / forgive me).
Is it grammatically okay to just say я не могу without adding what I cannot do?
Yes! Just like in English, if the context is clear, you do not need to repeat the main verb. You can simply say я не могу (I cannot) instead of repeating a full phrase like 'I cannot go'.
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