Learners of English make certain grammatical errors typical of their first languages which are quite different from the English language. Even advanced learners of English find it difficult to distinguish between ‘ask’ and ‘ask for’ and similarly the difference between ‘search’ and ‘search for’. Instead of ‘ask’, some learners use ‘ask for’ and instead of ‘search’ they use ‘search for’. Very recently, a professor of Civil Engineering asked me why learners make such mistakes and sought an easy-to-understand explanation on the differences. Such errors could be attributed to their thinking in their first language (mother tongue) and speaking in English or tying to find English equivalents for certain terms.
What is the difference between ‘ask’ and ‘ask for’? We use ‘ask for’ when we want someone to give us something such as money, help, and a light. Here are examples of how the phrasal verb is used in sentences:
• Whenever I happen to meet her, she asks for help.
• I avoid meeting her as she has the habit of asking for money.
• Without knowing that he is a non-smoker, I asked for a light.
• My colleagues asked for the postponement of the meeting as they were not free.
• Here is the CD you asked for.
When a person tells you something, then we use ‘ask’. In that case, the object of the verb ‘ask’ could be the price of something, the way to a particular place, the time, etc. Look at these examples:
• I asked the way to the American Embassy.
• He asked the price of the laptop.
• She gently approached me and asked the time.
• During the examination, a student asked the answer for a question.
• Don’t ask the speaker stupid things like where he was born and how much he earns per month, among other questions.
The expression ‘to ask for someone’ means to express one’s interest to talk to or meet someone. Here are examples:
• The parent asked for the principal on the phone.
• Someone asked for you this morning and I don’t remember the name of the person.
‘To ask permission’ or ‘to ask for permission’? — ‘To ask permission’ is correct and ‘to ask for permission’ is incorrect. Here are examples:
• Why don’t you ask permission to leave early?
• You do not have to ask permission to attend the programme.
Meaning of the expression ‘ask for it’ — The expression ‘ask for it’ means that someone behaves in such a way that they invite trouble or punishment, as in the following examples:
• The student has been suspended for three days. We all know that he asked for it by questioning the authorities.
• The sacked AIADMK MP has asked for it by not addressing Jayalalitha properly.
Meaning of ‘couldn’t have asked for more’ — This expression is used to emphasise that something is the best of its type one can imagine.
• I’m blessed. I have everything. I couldn’t have asked for more.
• He said that he couldn’t have asked for a better secretary.
— rayanal@yahoo.co.uk