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Я с радостью помогу. Только работать постоянно никак не получится.

I'm trying to grasp the undertone of this phrase. Does it mean:

Try as I might, working full-time just won't work out for me in any way.

{or}: Regrettably, I won't be able to work full-time. I just can't make it happen, despite my best intentions to the contrary.

{or}: I wish I could work full-time, but circumstances don't allow me to.

I mean, rather than showing a strong refusal on the part of the speaker:

I'd be glad to help, but there's no way I'm going to work full-time.


On another note: Can I use "получиться" and "удаться" interchangeably here, or are the two somehow nuanced in this specific sentence?

Я с радостью помогу. Только работать постоянно никак не удастся.

2 Answers 2

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Я с радостью помогу. Только работать постоянно никак не удастся /не получится.

My feeling is the following. Both verbs are interchangeable in this situation. It means he will help /he is eager to help, but due to some circumstances he can't work full time. And it doesn't depend on him.

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  • So can I use these expressions as a mild refusal? Mar 18, 2018 at 12:31
  • Could you give a situation? You know that everything depends on the context. Боюсь, у меня не получится is OK in many situations, but it's better to know what you mean.
    – V.V.
    Mar 18, 2018 at 13:08
  • "Regrettably, I won't be able to work full time." Hi. This is what I had in mind. Mar 18, 2018 at 14:08
  • Yes, it's OK, you can say it.
    – V.V.
    Mar 18, 2018 at 14:20
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"I'll gladly help. But working full time just isn't possible for me." It's like the second or third option. It's saying it can't happen, without going into specifics, a polite refusal.

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