Do you mind if I....?

Question

Hola amigos! I'm double checking a translation.

English: Do you mind if I look to see if there are any other problems?

Espanol: ¿Le importaría si yo miro para ver si haya otros problemas?

Suena ok o debería cambiar algo? Gracias!

Answer 1

"Le importaría" me suena muy formal, pero no se ve incorrecto. Recuerde que si usas la palabra "si" en el presente, no sigue el subjuntivo. Entonces sería así "para ver si hay otros problemas."

Si quiere decir la frase de forma menos formal, hay unas opciones como "podría buscar otros problemas" o "te importa si busco otros problemas."

Bien hecho : D

Yes... =) Like this sentence I found here -- " Mirar las piernas para ver *si hay* un problema en el corazón" - NikkiLR, Jan 10, 2012

Gracias! Thanks for explaining that if I use "si" in the present, there's no subjunctive. I have been wondering about that for awhile! - savvyspanish, Jan 10, 2012

I think it's ok if this is formal, because I'm writing this for a doctor to say to his patient. Most of his patients are from Mexico, where they speak more formally. Do you agree? - savvyspanish, Jan 10, 2012

de nada :) sí cierto, if you are speaking to a doctor there is nothing wrong with being polite, and I would personally also use usted! - unMica, Jan 10, 2012

the same thing for a doctor to his patient, usted seems better to me - unMica, Jan 10, 2012

Answer 2

If you are writing this for a doctor to say to his/her patient, I would say:

Si no le importa, ¿me permite examinarlo/la para descartar/excluir otros problemas?

If you don't mind, may I examine you to rule out other problems?

I agree that examinar is a great word for this! - unMica, Jan 10, 2012

Gracias Shelly! That's a great way to say it. Especially the "me permite" part. - savvyspanish, Jan 10, 2012

Thanks, you're welcome! - Sheily, Jan 10, 2012