Today’s Grammar Point: ~てもかまわない
かまう means “to care (about..)” or “to have a regard (for…)” and if its negative is used with a てform verb, ~てもかまわない usually means one of the following 2.
- It is a bit more formal expression of ~てもいい, “(you) may ~.” (for giving or asking for a permission)
- It is also used to express a rather reluctant acceptance of a situation like “(it) doesn’t matter even if ~” or “(I) don’t care about ~.”
Connections
- [てform verb] もかまわない
- [てform verb] もかまいません
Examples of the meaning 1
ご自由にお取りいただいて構いません。(Today’s caption)
Please use it as you like.いつ来ていただいても構いません。
You can come whenever.これをいただいても構いませんか。
Do you mind me taking this?遅くなっても構いませんか。
Is it OK even if I arrive late?いつまでいてくださっても構いませんよ。
You can stay as long as you like!
Polite ways to say “yes” to a ~かまいませんか question would be
- はい、どうぞ。
- ええ、だいじょうぶですよ。
- はい/ええ、かまいません。etc.
Examples of the meaning 2
私は叱られても構いません。
It doesn’t matter if I get reprimanded.誰が何と言おうと構わない。
I don’t care what others will say.どっちが勝っても構わない。
I don’t care which wins.雨にぬれても構いません。
I don’t mind getting wet in the rain.人にどう思われても構いません。
I don’t care what other people think.
Answer to Today’s Question: You can take any copy freely.
For the actual meaning of the sentence, see above.
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