I was sitting on a bench in Central Park the other day. A man sat down next to me. He asked me, “Do you mind if I sit here?” I didn’t mind at all. I wish everyone was so polite! A few minutes later, he started smoking. I asked him, “Would you mind not smoking here?” but he just ignored me. I guess he was not so polite!
Today we will look at using the word mind. Do you know how to use this word? Take a look at the paragraph above and then check out today’s lesson:
If you want to know if someone has an objection to your doing something, you can ask, Do you mind if I + present verb. Here are some examples:
- Do you mind if I sit here? Is it ok if I sit here?
- Do you mind if I smoke? Is it ok if I smoke?
Here is how to answer these questions when the answer is “Yes, you can sit here.”
- Do you mind if I sit here?
- No, I don’t mind if you sit here. You can sit here
- No, I don’t mind. You can sit here
- I don’t mind. You can sit here
- You can also answer with Not at all or Sure, go ahead.
Here is how to answer these questions when the answer is “No, you cannot sit here.”
- Do you mind if I sit here?
- Sorry, that seat is taken. You cannot sit here
- Sorry, someone is using that seat.You cannot sit here
- Sorry, (you can put your reason for refusing here)
Careful! → I don’t mind is used when we do not have an objection:
A: Do you mind if I sit here?
B: I don’t mind. I do not have an objection to you siting here, so please sit
NOTICE! I have heard some students use “Don’t mind” without the “I,” but that is not correct!
A: Do you mind if I sit here?
B: I don’t mind. Not, “Don’t mind.”
Careful! → Do you know the difference between [I don’t mind] and [Don’t worry]?
Don’t worry is a response we can use when someone apologizes. You can reply with don’t worry, but not don’t mind:
A: I’m sorry I’m late.
B: Don’t worry. Not, Don’t mind or I don’t mind
I don’t mind if you write your comments or questions here. Thanks for studying today!
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