Would you mind if I speak/spoke ...?

sitifan

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
1. Would you mind if I speak honestly about what has come to my mind? (My bold.)
Source: Hanlin English, Book VI, page 129.
2. Would you mind if I spoke honestly about what has come to my mind?
Source: written by a Taiwanese teacher of English.

Are the above sentences grammatically correct?
 
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Neither example is natural, although they're both grammatically correct and possible in the right context.

Would you mind if I spoke honestly about what I'm thinking?
Can I tell you what I'm really thinking?
 
Neither example is natural, although they're both grammatically correct and possible in the right context.

Would you mind if I spoke honestly about what I'm thinking?
Can I tell you what I'm really thinking?
According to the links below, would you mind if I + present is not correct, is it?
Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/mind
When we ask for permission politely, we can use would you mind if I + past or do you mind if I + present:
Would you mind if I turned on this light?
Do you mind if I sit here?
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/would-you-mind-if-i-speak-spoke-to-you-in-english.3613477/
 
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I suppose it is grammatically incorrect, but you'll often hear it.
And the more you hear it, the less it's regarded as incorrect. Eventually it'll be generally accepted. The Grammar Police try to stop this, but that's a losing game ;)
 

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