Mind Doing vs. Mind To Do
Cambridge says mind is usually followed by a verb in the -ing form and explicitly contrasts this with “mind to do.” Infinitives may appear elsewhere in the sentence for another grammatical role, but they are not the direct complement pattern after mind.
Use “mind doing,” not a direct “mind to do,” when mind means object to, be bothered by, or politely request an action.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| object to or be bothered by an action | mind + -ing | Use the documented -ing complement. |
| polite request framed with mind | would/do you mind + -ing | Use the -ing form after mind. |
| direct mind + to-infinitive as the same complement | not the reviewed pattern | Do not replace the -ing complement with “mind to do.” |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does “mind” mean object to, be bothered by, or politely request an action?
If yes: Use “mind + -ing.”
If no: If an infinitive appears elsewhere in the sentence, make sure it serves a different grammatical role rather than acting as the direct complement of “mind.”
Caveat: The rule concerns the direct complement after “mind”; it does not ban infinitives that belong to another part of the sentence.
Examples
Would you mind closing the window?
The polite request uses “mind + -ing.”
I do not mind waiting a few minutes.
The -ing complement names the action that does not bother the speaker.
She minded having to repeat the explanation.
The -ing phrase is the direct complement of “minded.”
Further guidance
Boundary
Infinitives may appear elsewhere in the sentence for another grammatical role, but they are not the direct complement pattern after mind.
Construction
Cambridge says mind is usually followed by a verb in the -ing form and explicitly contrasts this with “mind to do.”
Decision
Use “mind doing,” not a direct “mind to do,” when mind means object to, be bothered by, or politely request an action.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Word patterns: mind — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Cambridge grammar guidance that mind is normally followed by an -ing form rather than a direct to-infinitive
- Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Verb-complement patterns, including verbs taking -ing, to-infinitive, or both with meaning differences