¿Le importa/molesta que fume?
Do you mind if I smoke?
¿Les importa/molesta que abra la ventana?
Do you mind if I open the window?
¿Te importa/molesta que cierre la puerta?
Do you mind if I close the door?54.1.6 Permitir que+ subjunctive
In this construction, which is generally infrequent and normally used in formal
contexts, permitir, ‘to allow’, ‘to let’, must be in the imperative form, with an object
pronoun (e.g. me, te, le) attached to the verb.
Permítame que le diga algo.
Allow me to tell you something.
Por favor, permítanos que dejemos nuestras cosas aquí.
Please let us leave our things here.
Por favor, permítale que asista a su clase.
Please allow him/her to attend your class.54.1.7 Permitir+ infinitive
As with dejar (see 54.1.4 above), there are two ways of using this construction, both
generally infrequent but more common in formal contexts:54.1.7.1 Imperative form of permitir, with an object pronoun attached to it.
Por favor, permítanos quedarnos aquí.
Please allow us to stay here.
Por favor, permítame usar su teléfono.
Please allow me to use your telephone.54.1.7.2 Present of permitir, in an interrogative sentence, with the object pronoun preceding
the verb.
The intonation of this sentence should be rising. Compare the following examples with
those in 54.1.7.1 above.
¿Nos permite quedarnos aquí?
Will you allow us to stay here?
¿Me permite usar su teléfono?
Will you allow me to use your telephone?Note that the expressions¡Permítame! and¡Me permite!, ‘allow me!’, on their
own, are used to offer help, for example to carry or lift something. They also have
the meaning of ‘Excuse me!’, in the sense of seeking permission rather than
apologizing.SEEKING AND GIVING PERMISSION 54.1