asked

asked — verb

1. to say something to someone in order to get information from them, for example b

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

to say something to someone in order to get information from them, for example by putting a direct question to them.

例句

The teacher asked her students what they already knew about the ancient Maya.

ask + someone + wh-word clause

Gabriel asked the librarian for help finding a book on Korean history.

ask + someone + for + something

同義詞
  • inquire

    more formal; used in official or written contexts

  • question

    more deliberate or intense; often about investigating something

  • quiz

    informal, often means testing someone's knowledge repeatedly

反義詞
  • answer

    to give, not seek, information

  • reply

    to respond to a question that has been asked

文法句型

ask + [someone] + [question-word] + clause

ask + [someone] + about + [topic]

ask + [someone] + whether/if + clause

ask + [someone] + [noun phrase (the question)]

用法筆記

When the person being asked is named, no preposition is used before them — 'ask him', NOT 'ask to him'. The verb commonly appears in past simple form in stories and everyday conversation ('she asked the waiter…').

常見錯誤

❌I asked to the receptionist about the room.
✅I asked the receptionist about the room.
💡'ask' takes a direct object for the person, without 'to'.
❌She asked me the ticket price.' (placing both objects without 'about')
✅She asked me about the ticket price.
💡when information topic comes second, use 'about'.

2. to think about a situation carefully by going over the possible choices in your

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to think about a situation carefully by going over the possible choices in your mind, especially when you are not sure what to do.

例句

Before accepting the job in Tokyo, Elena asked herself whether she was ready to move abroad.

ask + yourself + whether + clause

Selim sat alone in the garden and asked himself why the relationship had broken down.

ask + yourself + wh-word + clause

同義詞
  • consider

    broader and less introspective; can apply to external factors

  • wonder

    more emotional or curious; less structured deliberation

  • ponder

    more literary; suggests slow, deep thought

反義詞
  • ignore

    to deliberately not think about something

  • dismiss

    to reject a possibility without considering it

文法句型

ask + yourself + [wh-word] + clause

ask + oneself + whether/if + clause

用法筆記

Almost always used with a reflexive pronoun — yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, themselves. The clause that follows begins with a question word (why, what, whether, if) and never takes question word order inversion ('I asked myself what I was doing', NOT 'what was I doing').

常見錯誤

❌He asked what was the problem in his head.
✅He asked himself what the problem was.
💡the reflexive pronoun 'himself' is necessary to show internal deliberation rather than speaking aloud.
❌I asked me if it was worth it.
✅I asked myself if it was worth it.
💡always use the -self form, never the object pronoun 'me'.

3. to speak to someone and let them know you would like them to perform a task, to

3.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

to speak to someone and let them know you would like them to perform a task, to give you an item, or to grant you permission for something.

例句

Christopher asked his boss for a day off so he could attend his cousin's wedding.

ask + someone + for + something

Soraya asked the waiter to bring her a glass of water with a slice of lemon.

ask + someone + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • request

    more formal; often written rather than spoken

  • beg

    much stronger; implies desperation or great need

  • demand

    stronger and more forceful; implies the speaker expects compliance

反義詞
  • refuse

    to say no to a request someone has made

  • offer

    to give something without being asked

文法句型

ask + [someone] + to-infinitive

ask + [someone] + for + [noun phrase]

ask + for + [noun phrase]

ask + if + clause (embedded request)

用法筆記

The core pattern 'ask someone to do something' is the most frequent construction across all registers. To request an object (not an action), use 'ask for'. Note the difference: 'ask the teacher' (put a question to the teacher) versus 'ask the teacher for a pen' (request an object).

常見錯誤

❌She asked a doctor.' (when she wanted medical help)
✅She asked for a doctor.' or 'She asked to see a doctor.
💡without 'for' or 'to', 'asked a doctor' only means she put a question to the doctor.
❌I asked him help.
✅I asked him for help.' or 'I asked him to help me.
💡the object of the request needs 'for' (noun) or 'to' (verb).

4. to invite someone into your house or along to a place, usually for a social occa

4.動詞及物A2
釋義

to invite someone into your house or along to a place, usually for a social occasion or an informal get-together.

例句

Théo asked his friend Lisa whether she wanted to go to the cinema on Friday.

ask + whether + clause (invitation)

Esme asked a few friends over for dinner to celebrate her birthday.

ask + someone + over (to one's home)

同義詞
  • invite

    more formal and unambiguous; 'ask' is more casual

  • call over

    informal; to ask someone to come to where you are

  • have over

    to host someone at your home

反義詞
  • uninvite

    colloquial; to tell someone they can no longer come

  • exclude

    to deliberately not include someone

文法句型

ask + [someone] + to-infinitive + [place/activity]

ask + [someone] + over / out / round / in

ask + [someone] + to + [event]

用法筆記

The particle 'over' suggests an invitation to someone's home; 'out' suggests a social event outside the home (a meal, drinks, a date); 'round' and 'in' are British variants of 'over'. The ordinary verb 'invite' is more formal; 'ask' is the everyday word for informal invitations.

常見錯誤

❌I asked her to the party but she didn't come.' — This sentence is grammatically correct but could be confused with a request (asking someone to bring something).
✅I invited her to the party.' or 'I asked her to come to the party.
💡Use 'invite' or add 'to come' to make the invitation sense unmistakable.

5. to state a price or a condition that must be met, especially when selling someth

5.動詞及物B1
釋義

to state a price or a condition that must be met, especially when selling something or when expecting a certain level of effort from someone.

例句

The seller is asking fifteen thousand dollars for the car, which I think is too much.

ask + [price] + for + [item]

The advertisement asks for at least three years of experience in marketing.

ask for + [requirement]

同義詞
  • demand

    more forceful; suggests the speaker expects compliance as a right

  • require

    more formal; used in rules, contracts, and job descriptions

  • expect

    broader; can mean to believe something is likely or deserved

反義詞
  • offer

    to propose a price, not state one

  • accept

    to agree to a price or condition

文法句型

ask + [amount/price] + for + [item]

be asking + [amount]

ask + a lot of + [someone]

用法筆記

Common in selling contexts ('what are you asking for it?'). The idiom 'be asking for trouble' (to behave in a way that will cause problems) belongs to this sense. Unlike SENSE 3 (MAKE REQUEST), this sense does not involve politely requesting — it states what is required as a condition.

常見錯誤

❌The house asks $300,000.
✅The seller is asking $300,000 for the house.
💡the subject of 'ask' is the seller, not the item being sold.
❌My job asks me to work late.
✅My job asks a lot of me.' or 'My job requires me to work late.
💡for expected effort, 'require' is clearer; 'ask a lot of someone' is idiomatic for demanding effort.