Regular verb
The verb to ask
ask → asked → asked
A2Meaning: to try to get an answer; to say you want something · Type: regular · Frequency: Top 50 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
ask / asks - Past Simple:
asked - Past participle:
asked - -ing form:
asking
Conjugation of the verb to ask
Present Simple
| I | ask |
| You | ask |
| He / She / It | asks |
| We | ask |
| You (pl.) | ask |
| They | ask |
Past Simple
| I | asked |
| You | asked |
| He / She / It | asked |
| We | asked |
| You (pl.) | asked |
| They | asked |
All the forms of the verb to ask
Present Simple
Full pageask / asks
“I ask a lot of questions.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are asking
“I am asking a question right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageasked
“She asked me a question.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were asking
“I was asking a question when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has asked
“I have already asked a question.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad asked
“She had already asked a question when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill ask
“I will ask a question tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to ask
“I'm going to ask a question this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould ask
“I would ask a question if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to ask
1. Asking a question
- Ask a question.
2. Ask for
Ask for + noun means to say that you want something.
- Ask for help.
3. Ask out
Ask someone out means to invite someone on a date.
- He asked her out.
A common mistake
1. You're asking for it
This idiom is not about a question. It means “you are looking for trouble!”: If you keep teasing your sister, you're asking for it.
Going further
Conjugating to ask is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Practise on PLAYYou can conjugate to ask. Now say it out loud.
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Related pages: ask
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of ask?+
Asked. Ask is a regular verb: just add -ed. Say it in one syllable: /ɑːskt/.
What is the difference between ask and demand?+
Ask is the normal, neutral word: Can I ask you something? Demand is much stronger: you ask in a firm way, as if you have a right. He demanded an answer. To ask politely, use ask.
Is it ask or ask for?+
Ask (without for) is for a question: Ask a question. Ask for + noun is to say that you want something: Ask for help. They are different.
What does ask out mean?+
Ask someone out means to invite someone on a date. He finally asked her out!
What does you're asking for it mean?+
You're asking for it is an idiom: it means you are looking for trouble. People say it as a warning or as a joke: Stop teasing him, you're asking for it!
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/ask
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.