Употребление глагола mind в английском языке

Глагол mind в английском языке со значением «возражать«, «иметь что-либо против» чаще всего используется в вопросительных конструкциях would you mind / do you mind, которые переводятся с прямым значением — «вы не возражаете. / вы не против. «, а также как вежливые формы обращения с просьбой — «не могли бы вы. / вас не затруднит. «.

Например:
Do you mind my smoking?
Вы не возражаете, если я закурю?

Would you mind shutting the door?
Не могли бы вы закрыть дверь?

После mind в таких конструкция обычно следует -ing-форма глагола. После -ing-формы глагола возможно использование дополнения, выраженного притяжательным местоимением.

Сравните:
Would you mind opening the window? (= Will you please open the window?)
Вы не против того, чтобы открыть окно? (= Не могли бы вы открыть окно?)

Would you mind my opening the window? (= Can I open the window?)
Вы не против того, чтобы я открыл окно? (= Можно мне открыть окно?)

После конструкций would you mind / do you mind также возможно использование придаточного предложения, вводимого союзом if.

Например:
Would you mind if I opened the window?
Вы не против, если я открою окно?

Do you mind if I smoke?
Вы не против, если я закурю?

В общих вопросах, когда говорящий интересуется, что думает его собеседник о чем-либо, без конкретного контекста, конструкция would you mind обычно не используется.

Например:
Do you mind the smell of tobacco? (Общий вопрос)
Вы не возражаете против запаха табака?

Do you mind / would you mind my smoking? (Вопрос с конкретным контекстом)
Вы не возражает, если я закурю?

Do you mind people smoking in your house? (Общий вопрос)
Вы не против того, чтобы в вашем доме курили?

Для обозначения того, что говорящий не возражает против чего-либо, используются конструкции don’t mind / wouldn’t mind.

Например:
I don’t mind your coming late.
Я не против того, что вы пришли с опозданием.

I don’t mind your opening the window.
Я не против того, чтобы вы открыли окно.

I wouldn’t mind if you smoke.
Я не против того, чтобы вы закурили.

Would You Mind To Open The Window?

What should I say when one is asking «Would you mind to open the window» and I wouldn´t like to open it. So should I say «No I wouldn´t» or «Yes I would» to tell to one that I don´t like to do it.

The word «mind» is translated as «uncomfortable», so «Would you mind to open the window» should be same as «Are you uncomfortable if you opened the window».

Thanks for the help.

• 
• wessman

wessman Would you mind to open the window

This is not correct. The question is

Would you mind opening the window?

If you are willing to open the window, say, «Not at all» and open the window.

If you are not willing to open the window, say, «I’d rather not» and be prepared to say why.

wessman The word «mind» is translated as «uncomfortable»

protest). Would you object to opening the window?

• 
• CalifJim

Technically the answer that would indicate you do not want to open the window would be, «Yes, I would mind.» However, there are many who would not like this answer and some who might even consider it rude and get offended. I suggest, instead, answering with something like, «I am sorry, but I would rather not.» This way you are politely turning down their request.

I hope this helps.

• 
• sbolton

What should I say when one is asking «Would you mind to open the window» and I wouldn´t like to open it. So should I say «No I wouldn´t» or «Yes I would» to tell to one that I don´t like to do it.

The word «mind» is translated as «uncomfortable», The idea of ‘would you mind?’ is more like ‘would you object?’

Iso «Would you mind to open the window» should be same as «Are you uncomfortable if you opened the window».

The correct way to ask is Would you mind opening the window, please?

If you don’t want to. then answer Yes., I would. This is short for Yes, I would mind.

I’ll attempt to make it as simple as I can.

Take this dialogue as an example:

Rowan: «Would you take my book to your house?»

Eric: «Yes, I would.»

Why did Eric say «would»? Because Rowan used a verb in his question.

Thus, your question should be: «Is the word ‘mind’ a verb?», and the answer would be: yes, it is.

The same happens with your example:

Shawn: «Would you mind to open the window»?

Rachel: «Yes, I would (in other words, rudely say she wouln’t open it)».

I agree, however, it sounds cynical.

It isn’t pleasant to hear somebody says to you that sentence. You could probably be insulted.

You could say instead: «I can’t open it at the moment» or «Could I open the window later?».

Yet, I think it is correct to say this.

• 
• anonymous

Many thanks to everyone for their replies.

As «Yes, I would» is concidered rude, how about «No, I wouldn´t» if I liked to open the window? This question is just for a technical purpose.

And still about the writing of the «Would you mind to open the window» sentence, is it definitely incorrect and no native English speaker would ever say so? I speak not grammartically correct my own language, instead, I speak it in the way we are used to (sometimes is as the rule says, sometimes it´s not). So how about in this case, really? I little bit doubt that all native English speakers speak English as the rule says 😉 . Don´t take me wrong, I don´t mean to encourage people to speak it incorrectly.

Thanks again for your great help.

• 
• wessman

If you want to open it, then the answer would usually be something like «No, I don’t mind at all.» This would not be considered rude in any way- it would be a common answer to such a question.

As to your other question, the way you had this sentence worded originally is definitely incorrect and no native English speaker that I know of would word it this way. That is not to say that all native speakers necessarily use correct English, but the particular way you had the sentence worded is not a common mistake for a native speaker, though the average native speaker would still be able to tell what you intended to say.

• 
• sbolton

Lesson learned 🙂 and many thanks to everyone who kindly and patiently helped me. BTW, this forum is GREAT with GREAT PEOPLE! Have a wonderful weekend.

• 
• anonymous

wessman And still about the writing of the «Would you mind to open the window» sentence, is it definitely incorrect and no native English speaker would ever say so?

This is such an important point that I want to repeat what sbolton has already said about it. Like the speakers of any language, English speakers don’t always speak exactly as the grammar books advise. Nevertheless, there are very specific areas within the grammar of English where deviations from the standard forms occur for certain populations of native speakers. These problem areas for native speakers show almost no overlap with the problem areas that occur for non-native learners of English.

The grammar of the verb «mind» is not among the places in English where such deviations occur for native speakers. It’s mind + an -ing word for everyone. (mind going, mind taking, mind looking, . ) The confusion of the «to + verb» form with the «verb + ing» form is almost exclusively a non-native problem.

Answer To The Question’would You Mind Opening The Window?’?

when somebody asks, «Would you mind opening the window?»

Do you use «Yes» when you answer as in the next sentence?

«Yes. I’m sorry because I’ve caught a cold.»

To me it sounds awkward.

• 
• anonymous

This is a funny one because no matter whether you start with yes or no, it sounds like you are happy to open the window.

Would you mind opening the window?

No, I’ll do it for you right now.

Yes, I’ll open the window.

To say that you don’t want to open the window it is clearer to avoid either yes or no and just say something along the lines of «I’d rather not as I’ve caught a cold. sorry.» or «Would you mind if I didn’t? I have a cold, you see».

Aren’t we strange!

• 
• nona the brit

Or: «No, not at all!» (for «yes, I’ll open the window»).

Requests that begin «Would you mind. » seem to be almost impossible to refuse, even if you do have a cold.

• 
• MrPedantic

Anonymous when somebody asks, «Would you mind opening the window?»

Do you use «Yes» when you answer as in the next sentence?

«Yes. I’m sorry because I’ve caught a cold.»

To me it sounds awkward.

• 
• milky

Thank you for your answer. Then, if you say, «I’m sorry I can’t.I caught a bad cold.» to the question «Would you mind opening the window?»

• 
• anonymous

It sounds a little odd.

«I can’t», in this context, suggests an inability to open the window, rather than an unwillingness. «I’d rather not» would be more appropriate.

And here you would say «I have a cold» (describing a state), rather than «I caught a cold» (describing an event).

«I’m sorry, I’d rather not, if you don’t mind – I have a bad cold.»

(It’s best to stress the fact that your cold is bad, even if it isn’t.)

• 
• MrPedantic

• 
• Gazapo

is it do you mind TO OPEN .

do you mind opening.

im not a native speaker and this little issue keeps bothering me in every test i’ve taken such as toeic and toefl.

does anyone know which one is correct and what’s the difference?

• 
• anonymous

Anonymous is it do you mind TO OPEN .
or

The first one doesn’t work.

As far as I know (but I’m open to corrections if what I write is not natural ), you need either «Do you mind opening the window» (I’m asking you to open it) or «Do you mind if I open the window?«/»Do you mind my opening the window» (I’m politely asking if you have any objections, but I’ll open it).

PS: Next time please open a new thread instead of posting in a very old one.

Would you mind me / my opening the window? [duplicate]

Would you mind me opening the window?

Would you mind my opening the window?

Who uses which form, and why? Is this a difference in dialect? A difference between formal and informal grammar?

1 Answer 1

There is a difference. According to another website, saying «my opening» puts more emphasis on opening, so «Do you mind opening the window?» is the same as «Do you mind my opening the window?» except in the second one it’s the person speaking that wants it to be opened.

The former sentence puts emphasis on the person speaking, so the former sentence asks if the second person is ok with the first person opening the window. Say the person that wants to open the window is bad at opening windows. So the person is really asking if it is ok. Let me quote what it said to explain it better.

Do you mind my marrying your daughter next month? = Is next month a good date for us to get married? In other words, you are putting emphasis on marrying.

Do you mind me marrying your daughter? = Yes, I am poor now, but I will work hard and make enough money to take care of your daughter. In other words, you put emphasis on the word me.

TL;DR: It depends on what you mean. The former asks if the person can open the window because the person is bad at opening windows or needs permission to open it up but the latter asks if opening the window is fine, and the second person doesn’t care who opens it.

Would you mind open the windows

• Английский (британский вариант)
• Английский (американский вариант)

The first one is perfect, but the second one is not correct.

You could technically say, «Would you mind my opening of the window?», which would be grammatically correct, but it would be a highly unnatural way of saying it.

• Английский (британский вариант)
• Английский (американский вариант)

@Pascal_AUT You’re welcome!

• Английский (британский вариант)
• Английский (американский вариант)

Actually, both are correct. The second just isn’t as commonly used in modern, spoken English.

«Do you mind me opening the window» places a subtle emphasis on the speaker, and is essentially asking if *you* bother them (when doing a certain thing). It’s equivalent to «are you bothered by me (when I open the window)?»

Using *my* emphasises the action, and is equivalent to «are you bothered by the window being opened (by me)?»

However, @ZachCG would not be alone in the thinking the second sentence is incorrect. It is a far less common construction and would sound odd to many ears, I’d say.