Don't mind vs Doesn't matter - English In A Minute

Hi, everyone! Dan for BBC Learning English here.

Today we're going to talk about

'don't mind' and 'doesn't matter'.

The verb 'mind' means 'dislike, be annoyed by

or object to'.

It's followed by (verb)ing and often used in

negatives and questions.

For example: Do you mind opening the window?

Sam: No, I don't mind.

Dan: If someone says 'I don't mind',

it means that they have no preference

or that they are happy for something to happen.

However, the verb 'matter' in English can mean

'be important'.

'English matters,' means

'English is important'.

If we say 'it doesn't matter',

it means that the thing that we are talking about

is not important or not significant.

Do you want tea or coffee?

Sam: It doesn't matter.

Dan: OK!

Sometimes they can both mean the same thing.

Sam: Do you want chicken for dinner?

Dan: I don't mind!

Sam: Do you want chicken for dinner?

Dan: It doesn't matter to me.