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.” 

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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.) 

 

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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? 
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c. Examples
 
  • Guest: Would you mind rescheduling my reservation? 
  • Clerk: No, that’s not a problem
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