[Modal auxiliaries] Would you mind

Asking permission
Would you mind if I closed the windows?	Would you mind if I is followed by the simple past.
Sometimes, in informal spoken English, the simple present is used: would you mind if I close the window? NOTE: The simple past does not refer to past time after would you mind; it refers to present or future time.
Asking someone to do something
Would you mind turning the stereo down?