56 Spotlight 1/2020 SPOKEN ENGLISH
The word “mind” can be used as a verb:
⋅ Do you mind if I smoke? (= Is it OK...?)
⋅ Mind out! (= Be careful!)
...or as a noun:
⋅ He keeps changing his mind. (= making different decisions)
⋅ I’ll bear in mind what you said. (= I’ll think about it.)
Mind is common in conversational English and used in a num-
ber of different ways. Here, we look at the use of “mind” as a
verb. In the next issue of Spotlight, we’ll take a closer look at using
“mind” as a noun.mind = be careful
If someone tall is going through a low doorway, you might say
Mind your head! (= Be careful you don’t bang your head!). If
a person is going down a steep staircase, you might say Mind
your step! (= Be careful how you walk!). On the London Under-
ground, you will often hear a speaker say Mind the gap! — when
the doors open on to the gap between the train and the platform.
Or, if you think someone might walk into you, in British English,
you could say Mind out! (= “Watch out!” or “Be careful!”).
The verb mind can also be followed by a clause:
⋅ (to someone going on a trip) Mind (that) you take enough
money with you.
⋅ (to someone carrying a stack of plates) Mind (that) you don’t
drop them.SPOKEN ENGLISH
Mind the gap!
How is the verb “mind” used in conversational English?
Look at the examples below, and read the explanations to
learn some useful phrases. By ADRIAN DOFFMEDIUM PLUSExerciseMatch the expressions (A–D) to their meanings (1–4).A. Could you mind the cat for
me next weekend?B. I don’t mind if you want to
watch TV.C. Mind you, I’m not very fit.D. Mind the step!A–3
B–4
C–1
D–2mind = take care of
You might ask someone to mind your children (= look after
them) while you’re out. Someone you pay to do this is called a
childminder.
You can also ask people to mind your cat or your dog when you
are away.
At an airport or on a train, you might ask someone to mind your
bag or your suitcase for you:
⋅ Could you mind my bag while I go to the toilet? (= keep an
eye on it)
If someone asks you about something private or personal, you
might reply Mind your own business! (= Don’t ask personal
questions!):
⋅ Who were you with last night? — Mind your own business!
I’m not telling you.mind = object to
If someone sits at your table in a cafe and asks Do you mind?,
the person means, “Is it OK (if I sit here)?” — in other words: “Do
you have anything against it?”
You can also use expressions with Do you mind if...? or Would
you mind if...? to ask permission:
⋅ (in a cafe) Do you mind if I take this chair?
You can say “Would you mind” + verb + “-ing” to ask people to
do something:
⋅ (to a noisy neighbour) Would you mind turning the music
down?
I don’t mind means “It’s OK with me”:
⋅ I don’t mind you listening to music. It doesn’t disturb me
at all.
If you’re telling someone what you want to do, you could begin
by saying If you don’t mind...:
⋅ If you don’t mind, I’ll clear the table now.mind you = on the other hand
People often use the expression mind you to link two ideas. It
means the same as “however” or “on the other hand” and is a way
to signal a contrast:
⋅ I think she married him for his money. Mind you, she’s quite
well-off herself.bang [bÄN]
, anstoßen
clause [klO:z]
, Satz
clear [klIE]
, hier: abräumen
doorway [(dO:weI]
, Eingang, Türöffnung
stack [stÄk]
, Stapel
staircase [(steEkeIs]
, Treppenhaus
well-off: be ~ [)wel (Qf]
, wohlhabend seinWould you mind practising the
idioms you’ve learned on this
page? You’ll find corresponding
exercises in Spotlight plus:
spotlight-online.de/spotlight-plus- on the other hand
- be careful of
- take care of
- it’s OK
Answers