ask
part of speech
verb (ask, asks, asked, asking); noun (a big ask — slang: a hard thing to request)
meaning for a pupil
1) To ask is to say a question so that you get an answer. tree →
2) To ask is to say that you want something: ask for help. tree →
3) To ask someone to do something is to tell them politely that you want it done. tree →
4) To ask someone to a party is to invite them. tree →
5) To ask a price is to say how much you want for something: they ask 5 dollars for it. tree →
6) (casual, UK, Australia) «A big ask» is something hard to expect: winning every game is a big ask. tree →
7) (casual) «Don't ask» means the story is too bad or long to tell; «you asked for it» means it is your own fault. tree →
8) (formal) The exam voice says «enquire», «request», «determine», «state» where a child would say «ask» or «find». tree →
sense in the lessons
what a question is really looking for («The question asks how many are left»); in class «ask the teacher», «ask a question», «put up your hand to ask»; in safety «ask a grown-up first», «ask for help»; in stories «asks for 3 more» is a request; phrases: ask for, ask around, ask out (ask on a date); in casual talk «don't ask», «you asked for it», «a big ask», «I'm only asking»; in the exam voice «Candidates are required to determine …», «enquire», «request»
examples
- And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?' (Torah GEN.37.15, JPS 1917) tree →
- And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? (Torah GEN.24.47, JPS 1917) tree →
- My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother? (Torah GEN.44.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- And when the king asked the woman, she told him. (Prophets 2KI.8.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- Or who shall turn aside to ask of thy welfare? (Prophets JER.15.5, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. (Prophets 1KI.3.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- «How many more … than» and «how many fewer … than» both ask for the difference: subtract. tree →
- The question asks how many sweets are left. tree →
- Sara asks her mum for 3 more beads. tree →
- Can I ask you a question? tree →
- If you get lost, ask a police officer for help. tree →
- Mum asked me to tidy my room. tree →
- Ben asked six friends to his birthday party. tree →
- Always ask before you borrow something. tree →
- «How was the trip?» «Don't ask. The car broke down twice.» tree →
- You poked the cat, so you asked for it. tree →
- 20 laps before lunch? That's a big ask. tree →
- Candidates are requested to state the number of beads in Sara's possession subsequent to her mother's provision of 3 further beads. tree →
- "Who's there?" asked the old lady. tree →
note
Look at what the question asks, not at single words: «more» can ask for a difference. Trap: in a story «asks for 3 more» is a request, not yet a change; only «gets 3 more» changes the count. «Don't ask» is not a question to answer; it means the speaker had a bad time. Past form «asked». «ask someone something» and «ask for something». «enquire» and «request» are the formal words; «determine» and «state» in an exam mean «work out» and «write the answer».
In the corpora
- And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou?
- And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?'
- And he asked them of their welfare, and said: 'Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spoke?
- My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother?
- And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «ask» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.