ask
verb /ɑːsk/
/æsk/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they ask | /ɑːsk/ /æsk/ |
| he / she / it asks | /ɑːsks/ /æsks/ |
| past simple asked | /ɑːskt/ /æskt/ |
| past participle asked | /ɑːskt/ /æskt/ |
| -ing form asking | /ˈɑːskɪŋ/ /ˈæskɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information
- How old are you—if you don’t mind me/my asking?
- ask about somebody/something He asked about her family.
- ask something Can I ask a question?
- Did you ask the price?
- You do what I tell you to, no questions asked.
- There are three important questions to ask.
- frequently asked questions
- + speech ‘Where are you going?’ she asked.
- ask somebody + speech ‘Are you sure?’ he asked her.
- ask somebody something She asked the students their names.
- I often get asked that!
- I had to ask myself some very difficult questions.
- I'd like to ask you a few questions.
- Why does everyone keep asking me that?
- ask somebody about something The interviewer asked me about my future plans.
- When specifically asked about the report, she indicated she had not read it.
- ask where, what, etc… He asked where I lived.
- ask somebody where, what, etc… I had to ask the teacher what to do next.
- I was asked if/whether I could drive.
Synonyms askaskYou cannot say ‘ask to somebody’: I asked to my friend what had happened.- enquire
- demand
- ask to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information:
- ‘Where are you going?’ she asked.
- She asked the students their names.
- Can I ask a question?
- enquire/inquire (rather formal) to ask somebody for information:
- I called the station to enquire about train times.
- demand to make a very strong request for information:
- ‘And where have you been?’ he demanded angrily.
- to ask/enquire about/after somebody/something
- to ask/enquire/demand something of somebody
- to ask/enquire/demand what/who/how, etc.
- to ask/enquire politely
- to ask/enquire/demand angrily
Extra Examples- I wondered how old she was but I didn't dare ask.
- ‘Do you still want to go out tonight?’ she asked hopefully.
- ‘How do you feel?’ she asked softly.
- ‘Oh, Sue went too, did she?’ I asked innocently.
- ‘Will he be all right?’ Sabrina asked anxiously.
- I wanted to ask him a question.
- May I ask what you mean by that?
- Voters can legitimately ask whose interests are being served by the new legislation.
- She longed to ask Mary if she knew what was wrong.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- quietly
- softly
- …
- want to
- dare (to)
- forget to
- …
- about
- get asked something
- if you don’t mind me asking
- if you don’t mind my asking
- …
- [transitive] to tell somebody that you would like them to do something or that you would like something to happen
- ask somebody to do something Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
- Parents with young children are asked to attend this meeting.
- They were politely asked to leave the shop.
- Eric asked me to marry him.
- All the students were asked to complete a questionnaire.
- ask whether, what, etc… I asked whether they could change my ticket.
- ask somebody whether, what, etc… She asked me if I would give her English lessons.
- ask that… (formal) She asked that she be kept informed of developments.
- (British English also) She asked that she should be kept informed.
- If you ask her nicely, she'll give you a hand.
Express Yourself Asking for helpAsking for helpIf you need help, people are more likely to react favourably if you ask politely:- Could you possibly help me?
- I wonder if you could give me a hand?
- Would you mind opening the door for me?
- I wonder if you'd mind taking a picture of us?
- Could I ask you to keep an eye on my luggage for a moment?
- Yes, of course.
- I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry.
- Sure.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- nicely
- specifically
- for
- [intransitive, transitive] to say that you would like somebody to give you something
- ask for something Don't be afraid to ask for help.
- I am writing to ask for some information about courses.
- to ask for a job/a drink/an explanation
- Did your friend ask for permission to use the image?
- ask something Why don't you ask his advice?
- ask somebody for something Why don't you ask him for his advice?
- ask something of somebody Can I ask a favour of you?
- ask somebody something Can I ask you a favour?
Express Yourself Asking for somethingAsking for somethingWhether you are in shops or restaurants or in somebody's home, you can use polite questions to get what you want:- Could I have a glass of water, please?
- Do you have any decaffeinated coffee?
- I'd like tea with sugar, please.
- I'll have the pasta with salad, please.
- Certainly.
- I'm sorry, we don't have any left.
- Yes, of course. Here you are/go.
Extra Examples- I'm not asking for money.
- I went up to the bar and asked for a beer.
- If you want anything, just ask.
- Why don't you ask your teacher for some of her thoughts on the matter?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- nicely
- specifically
- for
- [transitive] to request permission to do something
- ask to do something I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor.
- I asked to see the manager.
- Did you ask to use the car?
- ask if, whether, etc… I'll ask if it's all right to park here.
- ask somebody if, whether, etc… She asked her boss whether she could have the day off.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- nicely
- specifically
- for
- [transitive] to invite somebody
- ask somebody + adv./prep. They've asked me to dinner.
- ask somebody Thank you so much for asking me.
- I didn't ask them in (= to come into the house).
- We must ask the neighbours round (= to our house).
- ask somebody to do something She's asked him to come to the party.
Express Yourself Inviting somebody to somethingInviting somebody to somethingHere are some ways of making and responding to invitations:- Would you like to come for a meal on Saturday?
- There's a presentation of our new product at the conference on Tuesday. Would you be interested in coming along?
- I'm going to the game on Saturday—how about joining me?
- We're going to Boston—do you want to come with us?
- That would be very nice, thank you.
- I'd love to, thanks very much.
- I'm sorry. I've already got something on at the weekend.
- I'm sorry. I already have plans on Saturday.
- (British English) Thank you, I'll check my diary and let you know.
- (North American English) Thank you, I'll check my calendar and let you know.
- [transitive] ask something (for something) to request a particular amount of money for something that you are selling
- He's asking £2 000 for the car.
- How much were they asking for their house?
- [transitive] to expect or demand something
- ask something I know I'm asking a great deal.
- ask something of somebody You're asking too much of him.
- ask something to do something I know it's asking a lot to expect them to win again.
Synonyms demanddemand- require
- expect
- insist
- ask
- demand to make a very strong request for something; to say very definitely that somebody should have or do something:
- She demanded an immediate explanation.
- require [often passive] (rather formal) to make somebody do or have something, especially because it is necessary according to a law or set of rules or standards:
- All candidates will be required to take a short test.
- expect to demand that somebody should do, have or be something, especially because it is their duty or responsibility:
- I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
- insist to demand that something happens or that somebody agrees to do something:
- I didn’t want to go but he insisted.
- We insist on the highest standards at all times.
- ask to expect or demand something:
- You’re asking too much of him.
- to demand/require/expect/ask something of/from somebody
- to demand/require/expect/insist/ask that…
- to require/expect/ask somebody to do something
- to demand/require/expect/ask a lot/too much/a great deal
- to be too much to expect/ask
question
request
permission
invite
money
expect/demand
Word OriginOld English āscian, āhsian, āxian, of West Germanic origin.
Idioms
ask for it
- (informal) to deserve something bad that happens to you or that somebody does to you
- ‘You shouldn’t have said that to her.’ ‘Well, she asked for it!’
be asking for trouble | be asking for it
- (informal) to behave in a way that is very likely to result in trouble
- He was asking for trouble when he insulted their country.
don’t ask
- (informal) if you say don’t ask to somebody, you mean that you do not want to reply to their question, because it would be difficult to explain, embarrassing, etc.
- ‘And what did he do then?’ ‘Don’t ask!’
don’t ask me
- (informal) if you say don’t ask me, you mean that you do not know the answer to a question and are annoyed you have been asked
- ‘What will the meeting be about?’ ‘Don’t ask me.’
for the asking
- if you can have something for the asking, it is very easy for you to get it if you ask for it
- The job is yours for the asking.
I ask you
- (informal) if you say I ask you, you are expressing shock, anger or a strong feeling of dislike about something/somebody
- He told me I had to work late on Friday night. I ask you!
if you ask me
- (informal) in my personal opinion
- Their marriage was a mistake, if you ask me.