Episode 8
Making requests
Sometimes you need to ask to do something or ask someone to do something.
- You can use Do you mind if + subject + verb . . . ? to ask permission to do something:
Do you mind if I look around? ( = Can I look around?)
- You can use Would you mind + verb + -ing . . . ? to ask someone to do something:
Would you mind helping me in the kitchen? ( = Can you help me?)
You can use No to agree to requests with Do you mind if . . . ? and Would you mind + verb + -ing . . . ?:
A: Do you mind if I open the window?
B: No, go ahead.
A: Would you mind helping me with my project?
B: No, not at all.
The tricky part is the answer. In both examples, No means “I don’t mind. It’s not a problem.”
Do you mind = would it be a problem?
What’s the difference between do you mind if I and would you mind?
- Do you mind means if… means _________ do something?
- Would you mind + ing means __________ do something?
Agreeing to requests
You can use Yes or No to agree to requests. Use Yes to agree to requests with Can and Could:
A: Can I look around?
B: Yes. / Sure. / Go (right) ahead.
A: Could you chop the potatoes?
B: Yes. / Sure. / Yeah, no problem. / OK.
On the other hand, if questions start with do you mind if I or would you mind say No.
A: Do you mind if I look around?
B: No, go (right) ahead. / No, not at all.
A: Would you mind helping me in the kitchen?
B: No, not at all. / Oh, no. No problem. I’m happy to help.
A case where you would yes as an answer:
A: It’s really cold and someone says Do you mind if I open the window?
B: Yes, I do mind. It’s really cold. (You are not giving permission)
B: No, not at all. (Go ahead open the window)
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