ask
/ɑːsk/verb
उच्चारण आस्क
पूछना; माँगना; आमंत्रित करना
Basic word
- 1
[I, T]
to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information; to tell somebody that you would like them to do something or that you would like something; to invite somebody
पूछना; माँगना; आमंत्रित करना
- May I ask a question?
- She asked for help.
- They asked us to dinner.
+ 3 more examples
- Ask the teacher if you don't understand the question.
- He asked me to wait outside.
- Why don't you ask for directions?
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
ask + person + question
Ask takes the person directly, without to. Use ask him, not ask to him.
'Ask' के बाद व्यक्ति सीधे आता है, बीच में to नहीं लगता।
- Radhika asked her teacher a question about tenses.
- Ask him the way to the station.
ask + person + to-infinitive
Use this to say you request or tell someone to do something.
किसी से कुछ करने का अनुरोध या निर्देश देने के लिए 'ask + person + to-infinitive' का प्रयोग होता है।
- The librarian asked us to keep silent.
- I asked my brother to wake me at five.
ask + for + thing
Use for when you request a thing or help. The person, if named, comes first or after from.
जब आप कोई वस्तु या सहायता माँगें, तब 'for' का प्रयोग होता है।
- She asked for a glass of water.
- He asked me for advice.
ask + wh-clause / if / whether (reported question)
In a reported question the word order is that of a statement, with no do/does/did and no question mark.
Reported question में word order statement जैसा होता है; do/does/did और question mark नहीं लगते।
- She asked me where I lived.
- He asked whether the train had left.
ask + if / ask about / ask after
Ask about means to seek information on a topic; ask after somebody means to enquire about their health or wellbeing.
'Ask about' किसी विषय की जानकारी माँगने के लिए और 'ask after' किसी का हालचाल पूछने के लिए आता है।
- The interviewer asked about my hobbies.
- Your uncle was asking after you.
+Collocations 4
ask + noun
a questiona favourpermissionadvicethe pricethe way
- May I ask a favour of you?
adverb + ask
politelyrepeatedlyinnocentlycasuallydirectly
- He politely asked the guard for directions.
ask + for
helpleavea refunda receiptan appointment
- She asked for two days' leave.
ask + sb + out / round / in
ask outask roundask inask around
- I will ask around and find a good tutor.
“More examples 5
- The examiner asked her to read the passage aloud.
परीक्षक ने उससे passage ज़ोर से पढ़ने के लिए कहा।
- Don't be shy to ask when you do not understand.
जब समझ न आए तो पूछने में संकोच मत कीजिए।
- The shopkeeper is asking ₹300 for this bag.
दुकानदार इस बैग के ₹300 माँग रहा है।
- If you ask me, the second option is better.
मुझसे पूछें तो दूसरा विकल्प बेहतर है।
- He asked if he could borrow my dictionary.
उसने पूछा कि क्या वह मेरी dictionary उधार ले सकता है।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ He asked me that where I live.
✓ He asked me where I live.
A reported question uses the wh-word directly; do not add that.
Reported question में wh-word सीधे आता है; 'that' नहीं लगता।
✗ She asked to me a question.
✓ She asked me a question.
Ask takes the person directly, with no to.
'Ask' के बाद व्यक्ति सीधे आता है, 'to' नहीं।
✗ He asked me what was my name.
✓ He asked me what my name was.
In reported questions the subject comes before the verb.
Reported question में subject, verb से पहले आता है।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
All of these mean putting a question or a request, but they differ in what you want in return.
सभी का अर्थ प्रश्न या अनुरोध करना है, पर इस बात में अंतर है कि आप बदले में क्या चाहते हैं।
The general word for a question or a request.
प्रश्न या अनुरोध के लिए सामान्य शब्द।
- Ask the teacher if you are in doubt.
More formal; to seek information, often officially.
अधिक formal; प्रायः आधिकारिक रूप से जानकारी माँगना।
- She enquired about the date of the exam.
Formal; to ask politely for something, usually from someone in authority.
Formal; विनम्रता से, प्रायः किसी अधिकारी से, कुछ माँगना।
- He requested a transfer to Pune.
To ask strongly, expecting to get it.
दृढ़ता से माँगना, इस अपेक्षा के साथ कि वह मिलेगा।
- The workers demanded better pay.
¶Idioms 5
be asking for trouble / be asking for it
(informal) to behave in a way that is likely to cause problems
मुसीबत को न्योता देना
- Driving without a helmet is asking for trouble.
- Teasing that dog is asking for it.
if you ask me
(informal) in my opinion
मेरी राय पूछो तो
- If you ask me, the film was too long.
- If you ask me, she deserves the prize.
don't ask me
(informal) used to say that you do not know the answer to sth and are surprised sb has asked you
मुझसे मत पूछो, मुझे क्या पता
- 'Where is he?' 'Don't ask me!'
- Don't ask me why the shop is closed.
for the asking
if you ask
माँगते ही, बस माँगने भर से
- The job is yours for the asking.
- The leftover books are there for the asking.
I ask you
(informal) used to express disapproval or surprise
भला बताइए! (नाराज़गी या हैरानी जताने के लिए)
- He came to the wedding in shorts – I ask you!
- I ask you, who leaves a baby alone at home?
→Phrasal verbs 6
ask after sb
to ask for news about somebody, especially about their health
(किसी का) हाल-चाल पूछना
- Radhika asked after your mother.
ask around
to ask several different people for information or help
(कई लोगों से) पूछताछ करना
- I'll ask around and see if anyone has a room to rent.
ask sb out
to invite somebody to go out with you, especially as a way of starting a romantic relationship
(किसी को) साथ घूमने का न्योता देना
- He finally asked her out.
ask sb in
to invite somebody to come into your home
(किसी को) घर के अंदर बुलाना
- She asked me in for a cup of tea.
ask sb round
(British English) to invite somebody to come to your home
(किसी को) अपने घर आमंत्रित करना
- We've asked a few friends round for dinner.
ask for sb
to say that you want to speak to somebody
(किसी से) मिलने की इच्छा जताना
- There's a man at the door asking for you.
§Grammar and usage
Ask sb a question (not 'ask to sb'); ask for sth (request: 'ask for help'); ask sb to do sth ('She asked me to wait'); ask sb out (invite on a date).
यह बहुत पूछा जाता है: ask sb a question ('ask to sb' नहीं); ask for sth (माँगना: 'ask for help'); ask sb to do sth ('She asked me to wait'); ask sb out (डेट पर आमंत्रित करना)।
Reported speech: 'He said, "Where are you going?"' becomes 'He asked where I was going' (statement order, no question mark).
Reported speech में 'He said, "Where are you going?"' बनता है 'He asked where I was going' (कथन का क्रम, प्रश्नचिह्न नहीं)।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
Ask for trouble or ask for it (behave in a way that is likely to cause problems), a big ask (informal, a difficult thing to do), if you ask me (in my opinion), for the asking (if you ask for it: 'The job is yours for the asking').
Idioms: ask for trouble या ask for it (मुसीबत को बुलावा देना), a big ask (अनौपचारिक, कठिन काम), if you ask me (मेरी राय में), for the asking (माँगने भर से: 'The job is yours for the asking')।