would you mind if you did

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Kilimanjaro

#273771 Thu, 28 Sep 06 11:51 PM

1- Would you mind if you opened the window? (This sounds wrong as it simply expresses a request, which means we can not use YOU in requests formed in subjunctive mood)

2- Would you mind if you lost a million pounds at cards? ( This sounds ok, cause it asks for a direct answer in 2nd conditional subjunctive mood"

3-Would you mind if you did my homework? (This sounds sort of between request and yes/no question)

So I reckon; 1 is wrong , 2 is correct, 3 is correct only as a direct question - not as a request)

I just need your confirmation for the usage of the above statements. Am I right or wrong in my estimation?

Kilimanjaro

Joined on Sat, Dec 3 2005

İzmir

Full Member (273)

Subjunctives, Conditionals, Direct questions

nona the brit

#273778 Fri, 29 Sep 06 12:14 AM

1. You are right in that this is wrong! You need to say 'Would you mind opening the window' or 'Would you mind if I opened the window'.

2. Yes this is ok.

3) Not quite right for a request. 'Would you mind doing my homework'.

nona the brit

Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004

England

Veteran Member (11,345)

The name says it all.

milky

#273813 Fri, 29 Sep 06 01:55 AM

Nona The Brit wrote:

3) Not quite right for a request. 'Would you mind doing my homework'.

A request no, but here it is possible:

"Would you mind if you did my homework thinking it was your own?·

milky

Joined on Thu, Jan 15 2004

Senior Member (3,149)

Hume said that if we had perfect or complete descriptive knowledge of reality, we could not, by reasoning, derive a single valid "ought".