ask

/ɑːsk/ (bre, ipa) · /æsk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈask ˈäsk dialectal ˈaks/ (ame, mw)

ask — verb

1. to use a question to find out something or get a reply

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to use a question to find out something or get a reply

例句

Mina asked the driver when the last bus left.

ask + wh-clause

At the museum desk, Leo asked about family tickets.

ask about + noun

同義詞
  • question

    can sound more formal or more challenging than ask

  • inquire

    more formal, especially in service or business contexts

  • consult

    usually means asking an expert for advice

反義詞
  • answer

    gives the information instead of seeking it

  • reply

    focuses on responding after someone asks

文法句型

ask somebody something

ask about something

ask + wh-clause

ask, "... ?"

用法筆記

Often takes a person as object, as in ask the teacher, or a wh-clause, as in ask where the keys are. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about getting help, permission, or action rather than information.

常見錯誤

❌I asked to him about the job.
✅I asked him about the job.
💡ask takes the person directly, without to.

2. to let someone know that you want help, permission, action, or some object from

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to let someone know that you want help, permission, action, or some object from them

例句

Rina asked the nurse for a glass of water.

ask somebody for something

We asked our neighbors to watch the cat.

ask somebody to do something

同義詞
  • request

    more formal and common in official writing

  • appeal

    often suggests a serious or public request

  • seek

    more formal and less direct in everyday speech

反義詞
  • offer

    means giving or volunteering instead of asking

  • provide

    focuses on supplying what is wanted

文法句型

ask for something

ask somebody to do something

ask to do something

ask that ...

用法筆記

Only sense that regularly takes ask for, ask somebody to do something, and formal ask that ... . Distinguish from sense 1, where the result you want is information rather than action or permission.

常見錯誤

❌I asked him a coffee.
✅I asked him for a coffee.
💡use ask for when you want a thing.
❌She asked that open the window.
✅She asked him to open the window.
💡use ask somebody to do something when you name the person.

3. to invite someone to come with you, visit you, or join an event

3.動詞及物A2
釋義

to invite someone to come with you, visit you, or join an event

例句

Sofia asked Paloma to come over after school.

ask somebody to come over

Our cousins asked us to stay through Sunday night.

ask somebody to stay

同義詞
  • invite

    the clearest neutral alternative

  • have over

    informal and mainly for inviting someone to your home

  • bring along

    focuses on joining a group rather than the invitation itself

反義詞
  • exclude

    means deliberately not including someone

文法句型

ask somebody to come

ask somebody to a party

ask somebody over

ask somebody to dinner

用法筆記

Object is the invited person, often followed by to + event, over, or to dinner. Distinguish from sense 2, where you want help, permission, or some other action rather than someone's company.

常見錯誤

❌She asked me for dinner next Friday.
✅She asked me to dinner next Friday.
💡ask somebody to dinner means invite, not request food.

4. to expect a certain effort, amount, or quality from someone or something

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to expect a certain effort, amount, or quality from someone or something

例句

At the bakery, the dawn shift asks Theo for steady hands.

task as subject

Coach Diaz asks a lot of new players in March.

ask a lot of somebody

同義詞
  • require

    neutral and often less personal

  • demand

    stronger and more forceful

  • expect

    focuses on what you believe should happen

反義詞
  • spare

    means not making someone face the effort or demand

文法句型

ask a lot of somebody

ask too much of somebody

it is asking a lot to ...

用法筆記

Common with ask a lot or ask too much of somebody, or with a task or situation as subject. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about making a request, not placing demands or expectations.

5. to think seriously about something, often by putting a question to yourself

5.動詞及物 / 不及物C2
釋義

to think seriously about something, often by putting a question to yourself

例句

After the fight, Nora asked herself why she had shouted.

ask yourself + wh-clause

During the train ride, Omar asked if this plan still made sense.

ask if ... for reflection

同義詞
  • consider

    broader and less personal than ask in this reflective pattern

  • reflect

    stresses quiet thought after an experience

  • wonder

    can be lighter and less deliberate than ask in this sense

反義詞
  • ignore

    means not thinking about the issue at all

文法句型

ask yourself + wh-clause

ask if ...

ask whether ...

用法筆記

Usually appears without an outside listener and often with ask yourself, if, whether, or another question word. Distinguish from sense 1, where you are seeking an answer from another person.

6. to state the price you want a buyer to pay for something

6.動詞及物B2
釋義

to state the price you want a buyer to pay for something

例句

The dealer asked $900 for the old pocket watch.

ask + amount + for + thing

Ms. Huang is asking too much for that tiny shop.

be asking too much for ...

同義詞
  • charge

    often used when money is actually requested or collected

  • quote

    common when giving a price to a customer

  • price

    often means setting or marking the amount

反義詞
  • pay

    describes the buyer's side, not the seller's

  • bid

    describes the amount a buyer offers

文法句型

ask $500 for something

be asking too much for something

用法筆記

Pattern is ask + amount + for + thing. Distinguish from sense 4, which is about demands or effort, not the selling price of an item.

常見錯誤

❌The owner asked the car at $8,000.
✅The owner asked $8,000 for the car.
💡this price sense uses amount + for + thing.

ask — noun