| Principal Translations |
| ask [sb] [sth]⇒ vtr | (with object: enquire) | preguntar⇒ vtr |
| | | hacerle una pregunta a loc verb |
| | A man stopped me in the street and asked me the time. |
| | Un señor me detuvo en la calle y me preguntó la hora. |
| ask [sb] for [sth] vtr + prep | (request [sth] from [sb]) | pedirle algo a alguien loc verb |
| | The homeless woman asked me for money. |
| | La mujer de la calle me pidió dinero. |
| ask for [sth] vi + prep | (request) | pedir⇒ vtr |
| | | solicitar⇒ vtr |
| | The policeman asked for my license and registration. |
| | El policía pidió mi licencia y registro. |
| ask [sb] to do [sth] v expr | (request that [sb] do [sth]) | pedirle a alguien que haga algo loc verb |
| | My sister asked me to pass the salt. |
| | Mi hermana me pidió que le pasara la sal. |
| ask if/whether vtr | (with clause: enquire) | preguntar si vtr + conj |
| | I forgot to ask whether he could give me a lift to the party. |
| | Me olvidé de preguntarle si podía llevarme a la fiesta. |
| ask [sb] if/whether⇒ vtr | (with object, clause: enquire) | preguntar a alguien si loc verb |
| | Rita asked me if I wanted dinner. |
| | Rita me preguntó si quería cenar. |
| ask [sb] about [sth]⇒ vtr | (request information from [sb]) | preguntar sobre vtr + prep |
| | | interrogar sobre vtr + prep |
| | He asked his father about jobs in the factory. |
| | Él le preguntó a su padre sobre puestos en la fábrica. |
| | Él interrogó a su padre sobre puestos en la fábrica. |
| ask about [sth] vi + prep | (request information) | preguntar sobre vi + prep |
| | (informal) | preguntar por vi + prep |
| | | preguntar acerca de vi + loc prep |
| | The journalist was asking about the director's latest film. |
| | El periodista preguntó sobre la última película del director. |
| ask for [sth] vi + prep | figurative, informal (invite: trouble) | buscársela v prnl |
| | | buscar problemas loc verb |
| Note: This sense of "ask for" is often used with the continuous form of the verb - e.g., "He was asking for trouble" or "You're asking for it." |
| | I wouldn't do that if I were you! You're just asking for it. |
| | ¡Yo en tu lugar no haría eso! Te la estás buscando. |
| ask for [sb] vi + prep | (ask to see [sb]) | preguntar por vtr + prep |
| | There's a man at the door asking for you. |
| | Hay un hombre en la puerta preguntando por ti. |
Locuciones verbales
ask | asking |
| ask after [sb] vtr phrasal insep | (enquire about health of: [sb]) | preguntar por vtr + prep |
| | I ran into your old friends Vicki and Peter yesterday, and they asked after you. |
| | Me crucé con tus viejos amigos, Vicky y Peter ayer y me preguntaron por ti. |
| ask around vi phrasal | (consult many people) | consultar⇒ vtr |
| | | preguntar⇒ vtr |
| | | averiguar⇒ vtr |
| | Sam asked around to see if anyone in the village could dog-sit for him. |
| | Sam consultó a ver si alguien en el pueblo podía cuidar a su perro. |
| ask [sb] back vtr phrasal sep | (invite [sb] to return) | invitar de nuevo a loc verb |
| | | invitar otra vez a loc verb |
| | The panel asked the candidate back for a second interview. |
| | El panel invitó de nuevo al candidato para una segunda entrevista. |
| ask [sb] back vtr phrasal sep | UK (invite back to home) | invitar a la casa loc verb |
| | When they left the club, Zoe asked Luke back and he said yes. |
| ask [sb] in vtr phrasal insep | (invite to enter) | invitar a entrar loc verb |
| | The plumber showed Jenny his ID badge and she asked him in. |
| ask [sb] out vtr phrasal sep | (invite on a date) | invitar a salir loc verb |
| | He asked her out. |
| | La invitó a salir. |
| ask [sb] round vtr phrasal sep | UK (invite to [sb]'s house) | invitar a la casa loc verb |