English grammar
Ask, ask for, ask about
Ask for things and ask questions at work.
From the scene Ask, ask for or ask about?
In short
Ask for a thing you want, ask about a topic, and ask a person a question. The person goes straight after ask.
Your turn
Which one goes with a person + a thing?
Options: the director asked me for five euros · I want to ask for my payslip · ask about the payment
Show answer
a person + a thing → the director asked me for five euros
How it works
Ask for + a thing means you want someone to give it to you: I want to ask for my payslip.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
On Thursday the director asked me (blank) a change... I mixed up the names.
Options: to · of · for
Show answer
On Thursday the director asked me for a change... I mixed up the names.
El jueves el director me pidió un cambio... y confundí los nombres.
Good to know
The person comes straight after ask, with no preposition: he asked me for five euros. Ask about + a topic means you want information on it.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Now the assistant is (blank) me: where's the director's salary?
Clue: a question follows
Options: asking for · asking to · asking
Show answer
Now the assistant is asking me: where's the director's salary?
Ahora el asistente me pregunta: ¿dónde está el salario del director?
Good to know
Ask + a person, without for, means you put a question to them: why are you asking me that?
wanting a thing I want to ask for my payslip
Nuria
I'm going to ring admin. I want to ask for my payslip.
Voy a llamar a administración. Quiero pedir mi nómina.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I'm going to ring admin. (blank).
Options: The director asked me for five euros · Ask about the payment · I want to ask for my payslip
Show answer
Nuria
I'm going to ring admin. I want to ask for my payslip.
Voy a llamar a administración. Quiero pedir mi nómina.
a person + a thing the director asked me for five euros
Javi
So that's why yesterday the director asked me for five euros.
Por eso ayer el director me pidió cinco euros.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
So that's why yesterday (blank).
Options: ask about the payment · the director asked me for five euros · I want to ask for my payslip
Show answer
Javi
So that's why yesterday the director asked me for five euros.
Por eso ayer el director me pidió cinco euros.
wanting information ask about the payment
Javi
Are you going to ask about the payment?
¿Vas a preguntar por el asunto del ingreso?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Are you going to (blank)?
Options: the director asked me for five euros · ask about the payment · I want to ask for my payslip
Show answer
Javi
Are you going to ask about the payment?
¿Vas a preguntar por el asunto del ingreso?
a question to a person why are you asking me that
Your turn
What goes with why are you asking me that?
Options: a question to a person · wanting a thing · a person + a thing
Show answer
why are you asking me that → a question to a person
the formal word I'd like to request my payslip
Common mistake
Not to or at here. You want them to give it to you.
I'm going to ring admin. I want to ask for my payslip.
Voy a llamar a administración. Quiero pedir mi nómina.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| wanting a thing | I want to ask for my payslip |
|---|---|
| a person + a thing | the director asked me for five euros |
| wanting information | ask about the payment |
| a question to a person | why are you asking me that |
| the formal word | I'd like to request my payslip |
More lines from the story
- JaviOn Thursday the director asked me for a change... I mixed up the names.El jueves el director me pidió un cambio... y confundí los nombres.
- NuriaNow the assistant is asking me: where's the director's salary?Ahora el asistente me pregunta: ¿dónde está el salario del director?
- NuriaJavi, apparently I am... managing director!Javi, aparentemente soy... ¡directora general!