Do You Mind
1) (used as a question to ask for permission)
Do you mind if I ….?
= is it a problem for you if I …., May I…..
Ex: “Do you mind if I” open the window?
( Is it a problem for you, if I open the window?)
Ex: “Do you mind if I” smoke a cigarette?
(Is it a problem, if I smoke a cigarette near you?)
*To answer this question can be confusing.
If it is a problem for you, then you say “YES, I do mind.” (It is a problem for me, so don’t do it.)
If it is NOT a problem for you, then you say, “NO, I don’t mind.“ (It is NOT a problem, so you can do it.)
Ex: Person 1: “Do you mind if I smoke a cigarette?”
Person 2: “Yes, I do mind.” I don’t like cigarette smoke. (It is a problem for me.)
Ex:Person 1: “Do you mind if I open a window?”
Person 2: “No, I don’t mind.” You can open it. (It is NOT a problem for me.)
2) Expression (basically a rhetorical question)
Do you mind?
= would you please not do that
Ex: Imagine you are quietly studying in the library, and someone sits next to you and starts singing a song, and it makes it difficult for you to focus on studying.
You can say to the person “Do you mind?” (Would you please stop doing that.)
