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# ask

«ask» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **to say a question so that you get an answer** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (ask, asks, asked, asking); noun (a big ask — slang: a hard thing to request)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To ask is to say a question so that you get an answer. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m1)

2) To ask is to say that you want something: ask for help. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m2)

3) To ask someone to do something is to tell them politely that you want it done. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m3)

4) To ask someone to a party is to invite them. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m4)

5) To ask a price is to say how much you want for something: they ask 5 dollars for it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m5)

6) (casual, UK, Australia) «A big ask» is something hard to expect: winning every game is a big ask. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m6)

7) (casual) «Don't ask» means the story is too bad or long to tell; «you asked for it» means it is your own fault. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m7)

8) (formal) The exam voice says «enquire», «request», «determine», «state» where a child would say «ask» or «find». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#m8)

### sense in the lessons

what a question is really looking for («The question asks how many are left»); in class «ask the teacher», «ask a question», «put up your hand to ask»; in safety «ask a grown-up first», «ask for help»; in stories «asks for 3 more» is a request; phrases: ask for, ask around, ask out (ask on a date); in casual talk «don't ask», «you asked for it», «a big ask», «I'm only asking»; in the exam voice «Candidates are required to determine …», «enquire», «request»

### examples

- And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?' (Torah GEN.37.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x1)
- And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? (Torah GEN.24.47, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x2)
- My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother? (Torah GEN.44.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x3)
- And when the king asked the woman, she told him. (Prophets 2KI.8.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x4)
- Or who shall turn aside to ask of thy welfare? (Prophets JER.15.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x5)
- And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. (Prophets 1KI.3.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x6)
- «How many more … than» and «how many fewer … than» both ask for the difference: subtract. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x7)
- The question asks how many sweets are left. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x8)
- Sara asks her mum for 3 more beads. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x9)
- Can I ask you a question? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x10)
- If you get lost, ask a police officer for help. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x11)
- Mum asked me to tidy my room. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x12)
- Ben asked six friends to his birthday party. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x13)
- Always ask before you borrow something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x14)
- «How was the trip?» «Don't ask. The car broke down twice.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x15)
- You poked the cat, so you asked for it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x16)
- 20 laps before lunch? That's a big ask. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x17)
- Candidates are requested to state the number of beads in Sara's possession subsequent to her mother's provision of 3 further beads. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x18)
- "Who's there?" asked the old lady. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/#x19)

### note

Look at what the question asks, not at single words: «more» can ask for a difference. Trap: in a story «asks for 3 more» is a request, not yet a change; only «gets 3 more» changes the count. «Don't ask» is not a question to answer; it means the speaker had a bad time. Past form «asked». «ask someone something» and «ask for something». «enquire» and «request» are the formal words; «determine» and «state» in an exam mean «work out» and «write the answer».

### In the corpora

- [And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.670/)
- [And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1192/)
- [And he asked them of their welfare, and said: 'Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spoke?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1428/)
- [My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1458/)
- [And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.346/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «ask» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ask/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.