Ask vs. Told — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Ask and Told
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Definitions
Ask
To put a question to
When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher.
Told
Past tense and past participle of tell1.
Ask
To seek an answer to
Ask a question.
Told
Simple past tense and past participle of tell
A tale is but half told, if only one person tells it.
Ask
To seek information about
Asked directions.
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Ask
To make a request of
Asked me for a loan.
Ask
To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause
Ask a favor of a friend.
Asked to go along on the trip.
Asked that he be allowed to stay out late.
Ask
To require or call for as a price or condition
Asked ten dollars for the book.
Ask
To expect or demand
Ask too much of a child.
Ask
To invite
Asked them to dinner.
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Ask
(Archaic)To publish, as marriage banns.
Ask
To make inquiry; seek information.
Ask
To make a request
Asked for help.
Ask
The act of making a request
“He was contacted by the mayor's fund-raiser ... a day after the mayor made the ask” (Jennifer Fermino).
Ask
Something that is requested
“Being funny on demand is a big ask” (Anne Curzan).
Ask
To request (information, or an answer to a question).
I asked her age.
I asked her (for) her age.
Ask
To put forward (a question) to be answered.
To ask a question
Ask
To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
Ask
To request or petition; usually with for.
To ask for a second helping at dinner
To ask for help with homework
Emma asked Jim to close his eyes.
Ask
To request permission to do something.
She asked to see the doctor.
Did you ask to use the car?
Ask
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
What price are you asking for the house?
Ask
To invite.
Don't ask them to the wedding.
Ask
To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
Ask
(figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
Ask
An act or instance of asking.
Ask
Something asked or asked for.
I know this is a big ask, but …
Ask
An asking price.
Ask
(Internet) A message sent to a blog on social networking platform Tumblr, which can be publicly posted and replied to by the recipient.
Ask
An eft; newt.
Ask
A lizard.
Ask
To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; - often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.
Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Ask
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask?
Ask me never so much dowry.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
Ask
To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
He asked the way to Chester.
Ask
To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
Ask
To publish in church for marriage; - said of both the banns and the persons.
Ask
To request or petition; - usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread.
Ask, and it shall be given you.
Ask
To make inquiry, or seek by request; - sometimes followed by after.
Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name?
Ask
A water newt.
Ask
Inquire about;
I asked about their special today
He had to ask directions several times
Ask
Make a request or demand for something to somebody;
She asked him for a loan
Ask
Direct or put; seek an answer to;
Ask a question
Ask
Consider obligatory; request and expect;
We require our secretary to be on time
Aren't we asking too much of these children?
I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons
Ask
Require or ask for as a price or condition;
He is asking $200 for the table
The kidnapers are asking a million dollars in return for the release of their hostage
Ask
Address a question to and expect an answer from;
Ask your teacher about trigonometry
The children asked me about their dead grandmother
Ask
Require as useful, just, or proper;
It takes nerve to do what she did
Success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent
