[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ask.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / ask [← A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/A/) # ask «ask» in Mova's school 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/school/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/school/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/school/A/ask/#m3) 4) To ask someone to a party is to invite them. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/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/school/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/school/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/school/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/school/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 - «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/school/A/ask/#x1) - The question asks how many sweets are left. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x2) - Sara asks her mum for 3 more beads. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x3) - Can I ask you a question? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x4) - If you get lost, ask a police officer for help. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x5) - Mum asked me to tidy my room. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x6) - Ben asked six friends to his birthday party. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x7) - Always ask before you borrow something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x8) - «How was the trip?» «Don't ask. The car broke down twice.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x9) - You poked the cat, so you asked for it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x10) - 20 laps before lunch? That's a big ask. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x11) - 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/school/A/ask/#x12) - "Who's there?" asked the old lady. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/#x13) ### 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 - [A job interview is a meeting where an employer asks questions to decide whom to hire; several people usually compete for one job.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/3-finding-a-job-and-getting-on/8/) - [A pay rise is an increase in pay; some come each year, others have to be asked for.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/3-finding-a-job-and-getting-on/12/) - [A picket line is striking workers standing outside their workplace with signs, peacefully asking others not to go in.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/4-when-work-goes-wrong/14/) - [Sorting it is the grown-ups' job, not the child's, and asking for help early is the sensible move.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/8-borrowing-and-debt/10/) - [A text saying a parcel is held and asking for a small payment is a common scam to steal bank details.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/18/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «ask» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/ask/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.