أى طالب عنده سؤال يدخل بسرعه

[rizk2050]

If anyone wants to help me
why do we use the past tens here in this polite request
would you mind if I used your book ?
and if I say it in the present
would you mind If I use your book ?
will it be true or false ?

[Mr Mostafa Goda]

المشاركة الأصلية كتبت بواسطة rizk2050

If anyone wants to help me
why do we use the past tens here in this polite request
would you mind if I used your book ?
and if I say it in the present
would you mind If I use your book ?
will it be true or false ?

Your sentence is type 2 conditional sentence. Hence the if-clause is in the past tense and the main verb is in the 'conditional' tense. However, the past tense in this is not a real past tense, it is a subjunctive. Therefore, this refers to present or future time. If you use 'use', the verb in the main clause is in the future simple eg. 'Will/Do you mind if I use your book?'

Best Regards