- ask
- verb1 put a question to sbADVERB▪ gently, quietly, softly▪
‘How do you feel?’ she asked softly.
▪ conversationally, politely, sweetly▪‘Did you sleep well?’ he asked politely.
▪ eagerly, excitedly▪ angrily, bluntly, coldly, crossly (esp. BrE), impatiently, irritably, sarcastically, sharply, slyly▪ calmly, casually, coolly, drily, innocently, nonchalantly▪‘Oh, Sue went too, did she?’ I asked innocently (= pretending I did not know that this was important).
▪ curiously, doubtfully, incredulously, inquisitively, pointedly, quizzically, sceptically/skeptically, suspiciously, warily▪ anxiously, apprehensively, concernedly, fearfully, nervously, timidly, worriedly▪‘Will he be all right?’ Sabrina asked anxiously.
▪ cautiously, hesitantly, tentatively, uncertainly▪ hopefully▪‘Do you still want to go out tonight?’ she asked hopefully.
▪ jokingly, teasingly▪ legitimately▪Voters can legitimately ask whose interests are being served by the new legislation.
▪An interviewer may legitimately ask a candidate about current use of illegal drugs
VERB + ASK▪ want to▪She wanted to ask Mary if she knew what was wrong.
▪I wanted to ask him a question.
▪ dare (to)▪I wondered how old she was but I didn't dare ask.
▪ forget to▪I completely forgot to ask his name.
PREPOSITION▪ about▪He asked about her family.
PHRASES▪ get asked sth▪I often get asked that.
▪ if you don't mind me asking, if you don't mind my asking▪How old are you—if you don't mind my asking?
2 request sthADVERB▪ nicely▪If you ask her nicely, she'll give you a hand.
▪ specifically▪He specifically asked for information on the subject.
PREPOSITION▪ for▪I'm not asking for money.
Ask is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑email, ↑interviewer, ↑judge, ↑letter, ↑petition, ↑poll, ↑survey, ↑voiceAsk is used with these nouns as the object: ↑advice, ↑blessing, ↑court, ↑direction, ↑expert, ↑favour, ↑forgiveness, ↑indulgence, ↑judge, ↑name, ↑opinion, ↑panel, ↑pardon, ↑participant, ↑permission, ↑question, ↑way
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
