Verb A2 — Elementary /ɑːsk/

Ask — Definition, Examples & Usage

To put a question or make a request — one of the most essential verbs in everyday English.

Quick Definition

To ask means to say something as a question, or to request something from someone. It is a regular verb: ask / asked / asked.

What Does Ask Mean?

Ask comes from Old English āscian (also spelled ācsian), meaning "to call, summon, enquire". It is one of the oldest and most frequently used verbs in English, appearing in texts dating back over a thousand years. Its Germanic root is related to modern German heischen (to demand) and Swedish äska (to demand).

In modern British English, ask covers two core meanings: seeking information ("Can I ask you something?") and making a request ("She asked him to help"). Because it is a high-frequency, neutral verb, it sits at the heart of polite communication — from casual conversations between friends to formal business correspondence.

Learners sometimes confuse ask with tell. The key distinction is directionality: you ask when you want something from someone, and you tell when you give something (information, instructions, opinions) to someone. Mastering this distinction is essential for natural English at B1 level and above.

Example Sentences (A2–C1)

SentenceLevel & usage note
She asked him about his plans for the weekend.A2 — ask + object + about
Can I ask you a question?A2 — ask + indirect object + direct object
He asked his manager for an extra day off.B1 — ask + object + for (request)
The interviewer asked whether she had any experience in project management.B2 — ask + indirect question
It is unreasonable to ask employees to bear the full cost of a company’s mistake without any form of compensation.C1 — ask + infinitive, formal register

Common Collocations

CollocationExample
ask a questionPlease feel free to ask a question at any time.
ask for helpDon’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
ask for adviceShe asked her tutor for advice on her essay.
ask someone a favourCould I ask you a favour?
ask permissionYou must ask permission before leaving early.
ask for directionsHe stopped to ask for directions to the station.
ask after someoneShe called to ask after your father. (British English — to enquire about someone’s health)
ask outHe finally plucked up the courage to ask her out.

Usage Notes — Formal vs Informal

Neutral / everyday use: Ask is the default verb for questions and requests across all registers. It is equally at home in a text message ("Can you ask Tom?") and a business email ("I would like to ask whether…").

More formal alternatives: In professional or academic writing you may prefer enquire (ask for information), request (ask formally), or query (question or challenge). "We wish to enquire about your services" is more formal than "We want to ask about your services."

Informal / spoken English: In casual British English, ask is often used as a noun in business contexts: "That’s a big ask" (a lot to request) or "What’s the ask?" (what are we being asked to do). This noun use is informal and should be avoided in formal writing.

Indirect questions: After ask, use normal word order (not question word order): ✓ "She asked where he was" — not ✗ "She asked where was he."

Synonyms

enquirerequestqueryquestiondemandseeksolicitpetition

Antonyms

answerrespondreplytellinform

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She asked where was the nearest pharmacy.

She asked where the nearest pharmacy was. (indirect questions use normal word order)

He asked to her a question.

He asked her a question. (no preposition before the indirect object)

I asked him that he could help me.

I asked him if he could help me. / I asked him to help me. (use if/whether or infinitive)

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Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “ask”

What does ask mean?
Ask means to put a question to someone, or to make a request. For example: 'She asked him for directions' (request) or 'He asked what time it was' (question). It is one of the most common verbs in everyday English and works at all CEFR levels from A1 upwards.
What is the difference between ask and tell?
Ask is used when you want information or permission from someone: 'Ask her if she is coming.' Tell is used when you give information or instructions to someone: 'Tell her to come at six.' A common ESL error is using tell when ask is needed: 'I told him where the station was' (you gave information) vs 'I asked him where the station was' (you wanted information).
What is the difference between ask and enquire?
Both words mean to seek information, but enquire (or inquire in American English) is more formal. You would ask a friend for a favour but enquire about a job vacancy at a company. In everyday British English, ask is far more common in spoken language, while enquire appears more often in formal writing and professional contexts.
How do you use ask correctly in a sentence?
Ask can be followed by a direct object ('She asked a question'), a to-infinitive ('He asked her to wait'), an indirect question ('They asked where we were going'), or a prepositional phrase with for ('I asked for more time'). The most common mistake is using question word order after ask: say 'She asked where he was', not 'She asked where was he'.
What are common collocations with ask?
Common collocations include: ask a question, ask for help, ask for advice, ask someone a favour, ask permission, ask for directions, ask after someone (British English, meaning to enquire about their health), ask around (to question several people), ask out (to invite someone on a date), and ask over / ask round (to invite someone to your home).
What is the past tense of ask?
Ask is a regular verb. The past simple is asked and the past participle is also asked. Examples: 'She asked me a question yesterday.' / 'I have already asked him twice.' There are no irregular forms — this makes ask one of the simplest verbs to learn in English.
What phrasal verbs use ask?
Key phrasal verbs with ask include: ask out (invite someone on a date — 'He finally asked her out'), ask around (seek information from several people — 'I asked around but nobody knew'), ask after (enquire about someone's welfare — 'She asked after your mother'), and ask over / ask round (invite to your home — 'They asked us round for dinner').
Is ask formal or informal?
Ask is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts. In very formal writing, request, enquire, or query may be preferred: 'We request further clarification' rather than 'We are asking for clarification'. In casual speech, ask is always appropriate. British English also uses the phrase 'if you ask me' to introduce a personal opinion informally.
What is the noun form of ask?
The standard noun form is question or request, but ask itself is increasingly used as an informal noun in business English: 'That is a big ask' (a lot to request) or 'What is the ask here?' (what are we being asked to do). This noun use is informal and more common in British business settings. The verb form ask remains far more frequent.
How can I practise using ask in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise ask, asked, and ask for in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to test vocabulary including ask and related forms. Role-play activities — such as practising asking for directions, making requests at a café, or asking questions in a job interview — are especially effective for internalising this high-frequency verb.