“Would You Mind To Do” vs “Would You Mind Doing”

You may find yourself stumbling over the right words or phrases to use when you want to ask someone to do something for you or if you could have or borrow something from them. So do you use the phrase “would you mind doing” or do “would you mind to do”?

Is It “Would You Mind To Do” Or “Would You Mind Doing”?

If you think one of these phrases sounds a little odd, you would be correct. You should use the phrase “would you mind doing” because it is the grammatically correct option, whereas “would you mind to do” is not correct and you should not use it.

The reason “would you mind to do” is incorrect is because of is what is known as a complement clause. A complement clause is a word or set of words between a noun and a verb that complement or complete the phrase, such as “like”, “care”, “was”, and “that”.

In this instance, “mind to do” is not a complement clause that works because “mind” is a verb and you cannot use a verb as a complement clause to join a noun and a verb.

What Does “Would You Mind” Mean?

“Would you mind” is a phrase used to politely ask someone to do something. This phrase is also used to ask someone permission to use or do something, such as eating something of theirs or borrowing something.

Examples of How To Use “Would You Mind To Do” and “Would You Mind Doing” In A Sentence

Sometimes it can be confusing to figure out why your sentence doesn’t seem right until you are able to put the correct phrase you need to use next to the incorrect phrase being used. This allows you to see how the correct phrase sounds and how it is used.

Here are some great examples showing the correct and incorrect usage of the phrase “would you mind doing” in a sentence.

• Correct: Would you mind doing the dishes?
• Incorrect: Would you mind to do the dishes?
• Correct: Would you mind doing the yard work tomorrow?
• Incorrect: Would you mind to do the yard work tomorrow?
• Correct: Would you mind doing the first shift of driving for the road trip?
• Incorrect: Would you mind to do the first shift of driving for the road trip?
• Correct: I get squeamish really easily, so would you mind doing everything with the meat when we cook dinner while I just deal with the veggies?
• Incorrect: I get squeamish really easily, so would you mind to do everything with the meat when we cook dinner while I just deal with the veggies?

Is It “Would You Mind To Help” Or “Would You Mind Helping?

The correct phrase to use when asking someone to help you is “would you mind helping”. Using “would you mind to help” is not correct as it uses an incorrect complement clause to join the noun and the verb.

Here are some examples of how to use the correct phrase “would you mind helping” in a sentence.

• Correct: Would you mind helping me cut up these vegetables for the stew?
• Correct: I hope I’m not bothering you, but would you mind helping open the door for me?
• Correct: Would you mind helping your sister clean the house while we’re gone tonight?
• Correct: If it’s not too much to ask, would you mind helping me out by giving me a lift to work tomorrow morning?

Here are the same sentences for comparison using the incorrect phrase “would you mind to help”.

• Incorrect: Would you mind to help me cut up these vegetables for the stew?
• Incorrect: I hope I’m not bothering you, but would you mind to help open the door for me?
• Incorrect: Would you mind to help your sister clean the house while we’re gone tonight?
• Incorrect: If it’s not too much to ask, would you mind to help me out by giving me a lift to work tomorrow morning?

Should I Use “Do You Mind” or “Would You Mind”?

You can use either “do you mind” or “would you mind” when speaking and writing, as both are correct. “Do you mind” is commonly used to ask someone to stop doing something that is considered rude, while “would you mind” is commonly used to ask someone for their help.

As you can see in this Google Ngram Viewer, a helpful tool for comparing phrases, the phrase “would you mind” has been used more often since the 1860s when compared to the phrase “do you mind”.

Using “would you mind” is a common way to ask someone to help you out with something or to ask them for their permission to do something. such as asking for help moving something or asking someone if you could borrow a shirt.

“Do you mind” has contextual connotations linked to the situation you are in and the tone of your voice. It can be used to ask someone if you can do something, such as taking a beverage from their fridge. However, it can also be used to ask someone to stop doing something that you do not enjoy.

Is It Correct To Say “Do You Mind Doing”?

It is correct and acceptable to say “do you mind doing” but it can be perceived differently depending on the situation it is used in. “Do you mind doing” is a very casual way of requesting that someone do something, so it will most often be used with people you are very familiar with.

If you use “do you mind doing” with someone you don’t know as well, it may be perceived as less than a request but as a command they cannot refuse as the connotations for it can imply that they do not have a choice if they do not want to seem rude.

Is “Would You Mind” Rude?

If you are worried about sounding rude when using the phrase “would you mind”, you have nothing to worry about. “Would you mind” is considered a polite way to ask someone to do something, so it is not considered rude.

Is “Would You Mind” Formal?

“Would you mind” is a polite phrase that can be formal, but does not have to be, and is used to make a request for someone to do something. It is the more formal version of the phrase “do you mind” which is used more often with people you are close to.

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