ask

verb

/ɑːsk/

/æsk/

Verb Forms

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/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

question

[intransitive, transitive] to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information问；询问

How old are you—if you don’t mind me/my asking?要是你不介意我提问，你多大年纪了？
ask about somebody/something He asked about her family.他询问了她的家庭情况。
ask something Can I ask a question?我能提个问题吗？
Did you ask the price?你问了价钱没有？
You do what I tell you to, no questions asked.你按照我告诉你的去做，不问任何问题。
There are three important questions to ask.有三个重要问题需要问。
frequently asked questions经常问到的问题
+ speech ‘Where are you going?’ she asked.“你去哪里？”她问道。
ask somebody + speech ‘Are you sure?’ he asked her.“你有把握吗？”他问她。
ask somebody something She asked the students their names.她问了学生们的姓名。
I often get asked that!我常常被问到那件事！
I had to ask myself some very difficult questions.我不得不问自己一些很难回答的问题。
I'd like to ask you a few questions.我想问你几个问题。
Why does everyone keep asking me that?为什么大家总是问我这个问题？
ask somebody about something The interviewer asked me about my future plans.采访者问了我的未来计划。
When specifically asked about the report, she indicated she had not read it.当特别被问及该报告时，她表示她还没有阅读过该报告。
ask where, what, etc… He asked where I lived.他问我住在哪里。
ask somebody where, what, etc… I had to ask the teacher what to do next.我不得不问老师下一步做什么。
I was asked if/whether I could drive.有人问我会不会开车。

Synonyms askaskenquire ▪ demandThese words all mean to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information. ask to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information:

‘Where are you going?’ she asked.“你去哪里？”她问道。
She asked the students their names.她问了学生们的姓名。
Can I ask a question?我能提个问题吗？

enquire/inquire (rather formal) to ask somebody for information:

I called the station to enquire about train times.我打电话到车站询问火车时刻。

demand to make a very strong request for information:

‘And where have you been?’ he demanded angrily.“那你去了哪里？”他怒气冲冲地质问道。

Patterns

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

You cannot say ‘ask to somebody’: I asked to my friend what had happened.

Extra Examples

I wondered how old she was but I didn't dare ask.我想知道她的年龄，但是我不敢问。
‘Do you still want to go out tonight?’ she asked hopefully.“你今晚还想出去吗？”她满怀希望地问道。
‘How do you feel?’ she asked softly.“你感觉怎样？” 她轻声问道。
‘Oh, Sue went too, did she?’ I asked innocently.“噢，休也去了，是吗？” 我装作若无其事地问。
‘Will he be all right?’ Sabrina asked anxiously.“他没事吧？” 萨布丽娜焦急地问。
I wanted to ask him a question.我想问他一个问题。
May I ask what you mean by that?请问你这是什么意思？
Voters can legitimately ask whose interests are being served by the new legislation.选民可以理直气壮地问这一新的立法在为谁的利益服务。
She longed to ask Mary if she knew what was wrong.她非常想问玛丽是否知道出了什么事。

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

gently
quietly
softly
…

verb + ask

want to
dare (to)
forget to
…

preposition

about

phrases

get asked something
if you don’t mind me asking
if you don’t mind my asking
…

request

[transitive] to tell somebody that you would like them to do something or that you would like something to happen要求；请求

ask somebody to do something Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.如有知情者请与警方联系。
Parents with young children are asked to attend this meeting.有小孩的家长受邀参加会议。
They were politely asked to leave the shop. 他们被礼貌地要求离开商店。
Eric asked me to marry him.埃里克向我求婚。
All the students were asked to complete a questionnaire.全体学生都被要求填一份调查表。
ask whether, what, etc… I asked whether they could change my ticket.我问他们是否可以给我换票。
ask somebody whether, what, etc… She asked me if I would give her English lessons.她问我愿不愿意给她上英语课。
ask that… (formal) She asked that she be kept informed of developments.她要求继续向她报告事态发展情况。
(British English also) She asked that she should be kept informed.她要求继续向她报告有关情况。
If you ask her nicely, she'll give you a hand.如果你好好地求她，她会帮你的。

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?请问您能帮帮我吗？
- I wonder if you could give me a hand?不知道您能否帮我一个忙？
- Would you mind opening the door for me?请你帮我开开门好吗？
- I wonder if you'd mind taking a picture of us?不知道您是否愿意给我们拍张照片？
- Could I ask you to keep an eye on my luggage for a moment?请你帮我照看一下行李好吗？

Responses:

- Yes, of course.行，当然可以。
- I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry.对不起，我要赶时间。
- Sure.没问题。
(informal or North American English)

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

nicely
specifically

preposition

[intransitive, transitive] to say that you would like somebody to give you something请求，恳求（给予）；征求

ask for something Don't be afraid to ask for help.不要害怕求助。
I am writing to ask for some information about courses.我写信是想了解关于课程的情况。
to ask for a job/a drink/an explanation求职；要一杯饮料；要求解释
Did your friend ask for permission to use the image?您的朋友是否请求使用该图像的许可？
ask something Why don't you ask his advice?你为什么不征询他的意见？
ask somebody for something Why don't you ask him for his advice?你为什么不征求他的意见？
ask something of somebody Can I ask a favour of you?我能请你帮个忙吗？
ask somebody something Can I ask you a favour?我能请你帮个忙吗？

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?请给我一杯水好吗？
- Do you have any decaffeinated coffee?你们有没有不含咖啡因的咖啡？
- I'd like tea with sugar, please.请来一杯加糖的茶。
- I'll have the pasta with salad, please.请给我来份意大利面配色拉。

Responses:

- Certainly.当然可以。
- I'm sorry, we don't have any left.抱歉，已经没有了。
- Yes, of course. Here you are/go.好的，给你。

Extra Examples

I'm not asking for money.我不要钱。
I went up to the counter and asked for a lemonade.我走到柜台要一杯柠檬水。
If you want anything, just ask.如果你想要什么，尽管提出。
Why don't you ask your teacher for some of her thoughts on the matter?你为什么不问问你的老师对这件事的一些想法呢？

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

nicely
specifically

preposition

permission

[transitive] to request permission to do something请求允许；要求准许

ask to do something I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor.我立刻要求与主管谈话。
I asked to see the manager.我要求见经理。
Did you ask to use the car?你是提出想用这辆车吗？
ask if, whether, etc… I'll ask if it's all right to park here.我会问是否可以在这里停车。
ask somebody if, whether, etc… She asked her boss whether she could have the day off.她问老板可不可以让她休一天假。

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

nicely
specifically

preposition

invite

[transitive] to invite somebody请；邀请

ask somebody + adv./prep. They've asked me to dinner.他们已邀请我吃饭。
ask somebody Thank you so much for asking me.非常感谢你向我询问。
I didn't ask them in (= to come into the house).我没有请他们进屋。
We must ask the neighbours round (= to our house).我们得请邻居到家里来。
ask somebody to do something She's asked him to come to the party.她已邀请他来参加聚会。

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?你星期六愿意来吃顿饭吗？
- There's a presentation of our new product at the conference on Tuesday. Would you be interested in coming along?星期二的会议上我们会展示新产品。你有兴趣过来看看吗？
- I'm going to the game on Saturday—how about joining me?我星期六要去看比赛，跟我一起去怎么样？
- We're going to Boston—do you want to come with us?我们要去波士顿，你想跟我们一起去吗？
(informal or North American English)

Responses:

- That would be very nice, thank you.那真是太好了，谢谢你。
- I'd love to, thanks very much.我很乐意，非常感谢。
- I'm sorry. I've already got something on at the weekend.抱歉，我周末已经有安排了。
- I'm sorry. I already have plans on Saturday.很遗憾，我星期六已经有计划了。
- (British English) Thank you, I'll check my diary and let you know.谢谢，我查一下行事历再告诉你。
- (North American English) Thank you, I'll check my calendar and let you know.谢谢，我查一下行事历再告诉你。

money

[transitive] ask something (for something) to request a particular amount of money for something that you are selling要价；索价

He's asking £2 000 for the car.这辆轿车他要价 2 000 英镑。
How much were they asking for their house?他们要价多少钱？

expect/demand

[transitive] to expect or demand something期望；要求

ask something I know I'm asking a great deal.我知道我的要求很高。
ask something of somebody You're asking too much of him.你对他要求过分了。
ask something to do something I know it's asking a lot to expect them to win again.我知道期望他们再次获胜未免要求太高了。

Synonyms demanddemandrequire ▪ expect ▪ insist ▪ askThese words all mean to say that somebody should do or have something.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.她强烈要求立即作出解释。

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.所有候选者都要参加一次小测验。

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.我希望立即给付工钱。

insist to demand that something happens or that somebody agrees to do something:

I didn’t want to go but he insisted.我并不想去，但他硬要我去。
We insist on the highest standards at all times.我们始终坚持最高标准。

ask to expect or demand something:

You’re asking too much of him.你对他要求过分了。

demand, expect or ask?Ask is not as strong as demand or expect, both of which can be more like a command.Patterns

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

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罪有应得；自讨苦吃；自找麻烦
- ‘You shouldn’t have said that to her.’ ‘Well, she asked for it!’“你不应该对她这么说。”“好吧，这是她自找的！”

be asking for trouble | be asking for it

(informal) to behave in a way that is very likely to result in trouble要自找麻烦；要自讨苦吃
- He was asking for trouble when he insulted their country.他侮辱他们的国家，真是招惹事端。
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

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.不问为好；还是别问的好
- ‘And what did he do then?’ ‘Don’t ask!’“然后他做了什么？” “别问！”

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（不知答案并表示恼怒时说）别问我
- ‘What will the meeting be about?’ ‘Don’t ask me.’“会议将讨论什么？”“别问我。”

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只需要求，一经索取（便可获得）
- The job is yours for the asking.只要开口，这份工作就是你的了。

I ask you

(informal) if you say I ask you, you are expressing shock, anger or a strong feeling of dislike about something/somebody（表示震惊、气愤或厌恶）请问，真是，这还了得
- He told me I had to work late on Friday night. I ask you!他告诉我周五晚上必须工作到很晚。我问你！

if you ask me

(informal) in my personal opinion我认为；依我说
- Their marriage was a mistake, if you ask me.依我看，他们的婚姻是个错误。
Topics Opinion and argumentb2