phrasal modal verbs
would you mind
would you mind...?
A polite way to make a request or ask for permission is to use “would you mind” at the beginning of the question.
- Would you mind if I sat down next to you?
- Would you mind moving down a little so I can sit down?
- Would you mind?
A: Would you mind?
B: No, I wouldn’t mind.
Here are some examples of ways to use “would you mind.”
a. Asking for a favor
= okay
Other possibilities are not likely.
Singular
Would I mind…
Would you mind… 👍
Would he mind…
Would she mind…
Would it mind…
Plural
Would we mind…
Would you mind…
Would they mind…
This is usually used when asking if another person can do something. You don’t normally use it in the first person or with “it.”
a. Examples
- Would you mind closing the window? I don’t want my cat to get out.
- Would you mind if I closed the window?
- Would anyone mind if the cat went outside?
The examples below show someone asking for permission to do something.
b. Asking for permission
Would you mind if I… = Is it okay if….
- Would you mind if I left early today? (Is it okay if I left early today?)
- Would you mind if I borrowed you bike? (Is it okay if I borrowed your bike?)
- Would you mind if ate the last piece of pizza? (Is it okay if I ate the last piece of pizza?)
- Would your roommate mind if I drank his milk? (The roommate is not there to answer the question.)
b. Examples
- Would. you mind if I left the meeting early.
- No, I wouldn’t mind.
When you say, “No, I wouldn’t mind,” it’s almost the same as, “It’s okay.” It’s also possible to substitute with, “No, I don’t mind.”
In the examples below, someone is making a request. It’s possible, however, that the request may cause some inconvenience. Whatever the situation is, “would you mind” sounds polite.
c. Would you mind + gerund
- Would you mind speaking more quietly, please?
- Would you mind helping me move this weekend?
- Would you mind making dinner tonight?
Negative: Would you mind not + gerund
- Would you mind not smoking here?
- Would they mind not having a holiday party this year?
- Would you mind not driving so fast, please?
c. Examples
- Guest: Would you mind rescheduling my reservation?
- Clerk: No, that’s not a problem.