Would you mind ~?

lucas21cA. Would you mind if I smoked here?

Since "smoked" is past tense, it is asking if the fact that I previously smoked here is acceptable.

lucas21cB. Would you mind if I smoke here?

In this case, the common expression, it is asking for permission to smoke here now.

The salient interpretation of Sentence A is as a request for permission to smoke. The past tense is more likely since native speakers usually backshift.

Aspara GusThe past tense is more likely since native speakers usually backshift.

A simple backshift? (... said that I smoked ...) Or a hypothetical situation (Conditional II)?

CJ

CalifJim Aspara GusThe past tense is more likely since native speakers usually backshift.A simple backshift? (... said that I smoked ...) Or a hypothetical situation (Conditional II)?CJ

Hi,
CJ, What is the better choice in your opinion?
Do you mind if I smoke? Or, Would you mind if I smoked?

Thank you for your comment.

Anonymousthe better choice in your opinion

Of the two you presented (which are different from the two you asked about previously), Would you ... is more polite than Do you .... The more polite one is better among people you don't know well.

By the way, do you smoke?

CJ

CalifJimBy the way, do you smoke?

Thank you for your reply. That confirms my understanding. Funny you asked, I had been smoking for 25 years. But on the new year's eve of 2006, I went to a friend's house for count-down. We were talking and mingling. All of a sudden, I had this non-berbal message telling me to make a new year resolution 5 mintues before 12 midni

Anonymous20 pounds

Oof! But congratulations!

CJ

CalifJimA simple backshift? (... said that I smoked ...) Or a hypothetical situation (Conditional II)?

I think if I smoked can be seen as either a complement of mind (where if is a marker of subordination) or a conditional adjunct (where if has conditional meaning). Syntactic evidence for the former analysis is provided by the possi