word-vault

{ "term": "ask", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "ask", "heSheIt": "asks" }, "pastSimple": "asked", "pastParticiple": "asked", "ingForm": "asking" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information", "sensetop": "ask about somebody/somethingask something+ speechask somebody + speechask somebody somethingask somebody about somethingask where, what, etc…ask somebody where, what, etc…", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "How old are you—if you don’t **mind me/my asking**?" }, { "text": "He asked about her family.", "contextForm": "ask about somebody/something" }, { "text": "Can I **ask a question**?", "contextForm": "ask something" }, { "text": "Did you ask the price?" }, { "text": "You do what I tell you to, **no questions asked**." }, { "text": "There are three important questions to ask." }, { "text": "frequently asked questions" }, { "text": "‘Where are you going?’ she asked.", "contextForm": "+ speech" }, { "text": "‘Are you sure?’ he asked her.", "contextForm": "ask somebody + speech" }, { "text": "She asked the students their names.", "contextForm": "ask somebody something" }, { "text": "I often **get asked** that!" }, { "text": "I had to ask myself some very difficult questions." }, { "text": "I'd like to ask you a few questions." }, { "text": "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" }, { "text": "The interviewer asked me about my future plans.", "contextForm": "ask somebody about something" }, { "text": "When specifically **asked about the report**, she indicated she had not read it." }, { "text": "He asked where I lived.", "contextForm": "ask where, what, etc…" }, { "text": "I had to ask the teacher what to do next.", "contextForm": "ask somebody where, what, etc…" }, { "text": "I was asked if/whether I could drive." }, { "text": "I wondered how old she was but I didn't dare ask." }, { "text": "‘Do you still want to go out tonight?’ she asked hopefully." }, { "text": "‘How do you feel?’ she asked softly." }, { "text": "‘Oh, Sue went too, did she?’ I asked innocently." }, { "text": "‘Will he be all right?’ Sabrina asked anxiously." }, { "text": "I wanted to ask him a question." }, { "text": "May I ask what you mean by that?" }, { "text": "Voters can legitimately ask whose interests are being served by the new legislation." }, { "text": "She longed to ask Mary if she knew what was wrong." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["gently", "quietly", "softly"], "verb + ask": ["want to", "dare (to)", "forget to"], "preposition": ["about"], "phrases": [ "get asked something", "if you don’t mind me asking", "if you don’t mind my asking" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to tell somebody that you would like them to do something or that you would like something to happen", "sensetop": "ask somebody to do somethingask whether, what, etc…ask somebody whether, what, etc…ask that…", "labels": "(formal)(British English also)(informal or North American English)", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Anyone with information is **asked to contact** the police.", "contextForm": "ask somebody to do something" }, { "text": "Parents with young children are asked to attend this meeting." }, { "text": "They were politely asked to leave the shop." }, { "text": "Eric asked me to marry him." }, { "text": "All the students were asked to complete a questionnaire." }, { "text": "I asked whether they could change my ticket.", "contextForm": "ask whether, what, etc…" }, { "text": "She asked me if I would give her English lessons.", "contextForm": "ask somebody whether, what, etc…" }, { "text": "She asked that she be kept informed of developments.", "contextForm": "ask that…" }, { "text": "She asked that she should be kept informed." }, { "text": "If you ask her nicely, she'll give you a hand." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["nicely", "specifically"], "preposition": ["for"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to say that you would like somebody to give you something", "sensetop": "ask for somethingask somethingask somebody for somethingask something of somebodyask somebody something", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Don't be afraid to **ask for help**.", "contextForm": "ask for something" }, { "text": "I am writing to ask for some information about courses." }, { "text": "to ask for a job/a drink/an explanation" }, { "text": "Did your friend ask for permission to use the image?" }, { "text": "Why don't you ask his advice?", "contextForm": "ask something" }, { "text": "Why don't you ask him for his advice?", "contextForm": "ask somebody for something" }, { "text": "Can I ask a favour of you?", "contextForm": "ask something of somebody" }, { "text": "Can I ask you a favour?", "contextForm": "ask somebody something" }, { "text": "I'm not asking for money." }, { "text": "I went up to the counter and asked for a lemonade." }, { "text": "If you want anything, just ask." }, { "text": "Why don't you ask your teacher for some of her thoughts on the matter?" } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["nicely", "specifically"], "preposition": ["for"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to request permission to do something", "sensetop": "ask to do somethingask if, whether, etc…ask somebody if, whether, etc…", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor.", "contextForm": "ask to do something" }, { "text": "I asked to see the manager." }, { "text": "Did you ask to use the car?" }, { "text": "I'll ask if it's all right to park here.", "contextForm": "ask if, whether, etc…" }, { "text": "She asked her boss whether she could have the day off.", "contextForm": "ask somebody if, whether, etc…" } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["nicely", "specifically"], "preposition": ["for"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to invite somebody", "sensetop": "ask somebody + adv./prep.ask somebodyask somebody to do something", "labels": "(informal or North American English)(British English)(North American English)", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "They've asked me to dinner.", "contextForm": "ask somebody + adv./prep." }, { "text": "Thank you so much for asking me.", "contextForm": "ask somebody" }, { "text": "I didn't ask them in *(= to come into the house)*." }, { "text": "We must ask the neighbours round *(= to our house)*." }, { "text": "She's asked him to come to the party.", "contextForm": "ask somebody to do something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "to request a particular amount of money for something that you are selling", "sensetop": "ask something (for something)", "examples": [ { "text": "**He's asking** £2 000 for the car." }, { "text": "How much **were they asking** for their house?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "to expect or demand something", "sensetop": "ask somethingask something of somebodyask something to do something", "examples": [ { "text": "I know I'm asking a great deal.", "contextForm": "ask something" }, { "text": "You're asking too much of him.", "contextForm": "ask something of somebody" }, { "text": "I know it's asking a lot to expect them to win again.", "contextForm": "ask something to do something" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to deserve something bad that happens to you or that somebody does to you", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘You shouldn’t have said that to her.’ ‘Well, she asked for it!’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to behave in a way that is very likely to result in trouble", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "He was asking for trouble when he insulted their country." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if you say don’t ask to somebody, you mean that you do not want to reply to their question, because it would be difficult to explain, embarrassing, etc.", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘And what did he do then?’ ‘Don’t ask!’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if you say don’t ask me, you mean that you do not know the answer to a question and are annoyed you have been asked", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘What will the meeting be about?’ ‘Don’t ask me.’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if you can have something for the asking, it is very easy for you to get it if you ask for it", "examples": [ { "text": "The job is yours for the asking." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if you say I ask you, you are expressing shock, anger or a strong feeling of dislike about something/somebody", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "He told me I had to work late on Friday night. I ask you!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in my personal opinion", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "Their marriage was a mistake, if you ask me." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ɑːsk/", "audio": "as/ask/ask__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ɑːsks/", "audio": "as/ask/asks__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ɑːskt/", "audio": "as/ask/asked__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈɑːskɪŋ/", "audio": "as/ask/asking__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/æsk/", "audio": "as/ask/ask__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/æsks/", "audio": "as/ask/asks__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/æskt/", "audio": "as/ask/asked__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/ˈæskɪŋ/", "audio": "as/ask/asking__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Old English āscian, āhsian, āxian, of West Germanic origin." }