1月12日号：Mind (Part 2)

Last time, we looked at some of the meanings and uses of mind. This time, we’ll look at two common ways we can use the phrases do you mind and would you mind. While both phrases have the same meaning, would you mind sounds more polite and formal.

To ask someone for permission, we can use the structures:

1) Do you mind + if + (subject) + (present verb)

2) Would you mind + if + (subject) + (past verb)

For example:

Do you mind if I use this computer?

Do you mind if my husband smokes in the car?

Would you mind if we turned on the air conditioner?

Would you mind if the children played in the backyard?

Another use of do you mind and would you mind is to make requests. For this, we use the following structures:

1) Do you mind + (verb) + ing

2) Would you mind + (verb) + ing

For example:

Do you mind coming to work early tomorrow?

Do you mind copying this document for me?

Would you mind washing the dishes?

Would you mind turning down the air conditioner?

We need to be careful when we reply to these questions. This is because “do you mind” and “would you mind” mean “Does it concern you?” or “Is it a problem?”

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Ian先生プロフィール

英会話イーオン東京本社教務課コーディネーター。イーオン教師のトレーニングや英語セミナーを企画制作するカリスマ教師として活躍中。カリフォルニア大学バークレー校卒業。趣味は読書、料理、クラフトワーク。