Learn English Grammar, Vocabulary
Practical English Usage, Writing
Grammar terms and Speaking
Reference Desk
Home
English Grammar
Practical English Usage
Grammatical Terms
English Writing
Vocabulary
English Speaking
Business English
TOEFL
IELTS
Interactive Pages
English grammar and vocabulary exercises

 

 

Learn English - Grammar

Ask and ask for

Ask is used without for to ask somebody to tell something.

  • Don't ask him his age.

Ask for is used to ask somebody to give something.

  • Don’t ask me for money.

Ask can be followed by an object.

  • Ask him.

When ask is followed by two objects, the indirect object (the person) usually comes first.

  • Ask him his name. (NOT Ask his name to him.)
Infinitive structures after ask

Ask can be followed by an infinitive.

  • I asked to leave. (= I asked permission to leave.)

Ask + object + infinitive is also possible.

  • I asked him to leave. (= I wanted him to leave.)

Search the Dictionary of Practical English Usage

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z
Show Full Index

 

 

Subscribe and win an eBook

Subscribe to our feed by email and win a free grammar eBook titled '120 Grammar and Vocabulary Mistakes to Avoid'.

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

The download link will be sent by email. Please make sure that you have enabled links and images in your email.