Meaning
Verb: To request information or assistance, or to enquire of someone. Common uses include asking questions, requesting items/services, seeking permission, or inviting someone.
Noun: An inquiry or act of requesting; an opening question or price.
Pronunciation & Stress
/æsk/ (General American): Stress on the single syllable.
/ɑːsk/ (Received Pronunciation/UK Northern England): Stress on the vowel.
Note: Metathesis (/ɑːks/ or /æks/) occurs in African American Vernacular English (AAFE) and Multicultural London English (MLE).
Morphology
Base Form: ask
Third-Person Singular: asks
Past Tense/Participle: asked
Present Participle: asking
Grammar Notes
- Often used with prepositions:
– “ask for” (requested object/service)
– “ask someone” (who to ask)
– “ask to do something” (to request permission) - Catenative verb: Takes irregular infinitives (e.g., “I asked to leave”).
- Common collocations:
- ask permission
- ask a question
- ask for help
- Transitive and intransitive uses.
Interesting Fact
Metathesis (reordering sounds: /æks/ instead of /æsk/) traces back to Old English. It remains dialectically resonant in communities like AAFVE but is proscribed in standard English.
Tips for Learning
1. Link “ask” to synonyms: “inquire,” “request,” or “beseech.”
2. Visualize situations: asking for directions, seeking permission, or posting a Tumblr ask.
3. Memorize common combinations: “for help,” “someone something,” “to do something.”
Examples
Simple: “She asked me where the station is.”
Medium: “He asked his professor for extra credit.”
Complex: “Without asking for approval, she asked the team member to finalize the report.”
Related Words
Synonyms: request, query, petition, inquire, beseech
Antonyms: give, refuse, deny
Common Phrases:
– ask around
– ask outright
– ask which
Mini-Task
- Create a sentence using “ask” with “permission.”
Example: “You must ask your parents before traveling. - Find a synonym for “ask” in the noun sense (e.g., “an invite”).