Some questions about "Would you mind if...?"

[orzorz]

Dear Sirs,

I'd like to ask you some questions about the sentences starting with "Would you mind if...?"
I often see the sentences like "Would you mind if I...?" (ex. "Would you mind if I sat here?")

But what about "Would you mind if YOU...?"
(1) Would you mind closing the door?
(2) Would you mind if you closed the door?
Both seem to be grammatically correct, but for some reason or other
I seldom see this type of request with "YOU" the subject of an "if-clause".
It seems to me that, in this case, a gerund often comes after "Would you mind", not an "if clause."

Are there any specific reasons?
Which of the two sentences sounds more polite to you, (1) or (2)?
Would you mind answering these questions? TIA.

Best Regards,
orzorz

[Tdol]

(1) Would you mind closing the door?
(2) Would you mind if you closed the door? This does not work as a request.

[orzorz]

Dear Mr. Tdol

Thank you very much for your reply.
No wonder I seldom hear people say "Would you mind if YOU...?"
(In fact, I have heard a native speaker (in the video sequence) say "Would you mind if YOU...?" only once.)

I appreciate your expertise on the English language.
I'm looking forward to learning English here in this forum with excellent teachers like you.

Best regards,

orzorz

[Tdol]

It is possible to generate a sentence with 'would you mind if you...', but it wouldn't be a request but asking about how the person would feel if they did something:
Would you mind if you didn't get into university? = would it hurt you if you didn't

[orzorz]

Dear Mr. Tdol,

It is very kind of you to explain in more detail the difference between 'would you mind if I...' and 'would you mind if you...'
Thanks to your excellent explanation, I am now able to distinguish between the two the structures of which I often find similar.
I will keep on studying English, and someday I'd like to be an excellent teacher just like you.

Best wishes,

orzorz

[bianca]

Constructions like "would you mind if I.." do occur, like in "would you mind if I close the door?", meaning "Is it OK with you if I close the door?" On the other hand, "Would you mind closing the door?" means: "Please, close the door (for me)." Incorrect: "Would you mind if you...", but correct "would you mind if your ... (child joins me for a walk??)

[orzorz]

Dear Ms. bianca,

Thank you very much for your reply.
I think "Would you mind if I close the door?" can be paraphrased as "Would you mind + my ~ing?":"Would you mind my closing the door?"
In my understanding, these sentences are used when you ask someone for permission.
On the other hand, the sentence like "Would you mind closing the door?" is a request; it is used when you ask someone to do something.
And as for the interesting example that you give --"Would you mind if your child joins me for a walk?" -- confusing as it may seem, it is asking for permission. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Best wishes,

orzorz

[bianca]

Hi there!

Yes, in "Would you mind if your child joins me for a walk?" -you ask for permission.

But in a sentence like this one:

"Would you mind if your spouse is cheating on you?"

Here you simply ask if someone would feel offended by this situation, no permission (unless you say: would you mind if your spouse spends the night with me?)

Oh, what am I getting myself into? Sorry... this is getting embarrassing.

[orzorz]

Dear Ms. bianca,

Thank you again for some intriguing examples that you give. They will surely enrich my language experience.
My answer to the first question "Would you mind if your spouse is cheating on you?" is: "Yes, I would." I would get hurt emotionally.
And if someone asked,"Would you mind if your spouse spends the night with me?" he would get hurt physically; before saying anything, I would punch him in the face!!
I hope none of these things will happen to us!!

Best wishes,

orzorz

[bianca]

Gotcha!!