Ask for means to request something (help, advice, the bill) or to ask to speak to someone: ask for Anna at reception. If the request is to a particular person, name them straight after ask: ask your teacher for advice.
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ask for + thing; ask + person + for + thing; ask for + person (to speak to them)
- I asked my manager for two days off to help my parents move house.
- When you get to the hotel, ask for Maria at reception; she has your keys.
- Don't be shy about asking for help if the task seems too difficult.
What changed
First versionWhen we finished dinner, we asked the bill.
RevisionWhen we finished dinner, we asked for the bill.
Without a preposition, ask usually means to put a question: ask a question, ask the way. When you want someone to give or bring you something, you need for: asked for the bill. The mistake is easy to make because in ask a question the object follows the verb directly, and learners copy that pattern for requests.
It is the difference between asking a question and making a request: ask the price means to find out how much something costs, ask for a discount means to request a lower price. If you ask someone to do something, there is no for: Ask him to call me back.
Your turn
The soup was cold, so we ___ another bowl.
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asked for — We needed a new bowl of soup, so we asked for one to be brought. That is asked for. Asked another bowl doesn't work: you can ask a person or a question, but not a bowl.
Think of a time you asked for something in a café, a shop or at work. Write who you asked and what exactly you asked for.
Last week I asked the waiter for a glass of water because the curry was very spicy.
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