I would if I could.

人生难免有遗憾的事情，譬如你身边的朋友在玩乐的时候，唯独你要工作，不能参加，是否有点可惜，有点遗憾的感觉呢?如果你必须拒绝别人的邀请，又不想人家误会你没诚意，你可以说：I would if I could.(如果可以的话，我也想)，也可以说：I would if I could but I can't.(可以的话我也想，但我不能)。这句已经否定了一切可能性，如果还有一点儿机会参加的话，可以说：I'll see what I can do.(我想想有没有办法)。如果下次老板叫你加班，你也可试试说：I wish I could(我都希望，如果可以的话)。

对话

A: Why can't you be at work earlier? Everyone was expecting you this morning.

B: I would if I could. But I have been really busy every night.

A: You disappoint me. I'm just tired of your excuses.

B: Can't you see my side of this?

A: No, I'm afraid not.

B: Thank you. That's so kind of you.

甲：你不能早点上班吗?今早每个人都在等你。

乙：如果可以我也想，但我每晚都很忙。

甲：你令我失望，我听厌了你的借口。

乙：你不能替我想想?

甲：对不起，恐怕不能了。

乙：谢谢，你真好人!

一个人受到责备，回答说：Can't you see my side of this? 这一句值得谈谈。Side可以解作事情的‘一面’。西谚有言：There are two sides to every question.(问题总有正反两方面)。成语To look on the bright side. 就是‘看事情好的一面’，例如：Why not look on the bright side? You've lost your job, which means you have lots of free time now.(为什么不看好的一面?你失业了，现在就不愁没有闲暇了)。

Can't you see my side of this? 或Can't you see this from my side? 即‘你不可以从我的立场考虑一下么?’这类问题，不是一般真要有答案的问题，说话者明显是要对方同意自己的话，有强调作用，语言学界称为‘修辞问句’(rhetorical question)。

用否定句法的修辞问句，预期对方会说Yes;用肯定句法的，则预期对方会说No，例如：(1) Isn't it stupid of him to do that?(他那样做不是很愚蠢吗?)(2) Could I have done otherwise?(我当时可以不这样做吗?)第一句预期对方会说Yes, it is.(不错，他很愚蠢)，第二句则预期对方说No, you couldn't.(你别无选择了)。修辞问句只要用得其法，写议论文章会更加有力。

Can't you see my side of this? 一语，本来是要对方说Yes, I can (see your side of this).，但对方偏偏说：No, I'm afraid not. 那你只好语带讽刺的说：Thank you. That's so kind of you.(谢谢你，你真好)。