The verb to ask · Conjugation
Past Simple of ask
The answer: asked
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to ask is asked.
Example: She asked me a question.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | asked |
| You | asked |
| He / She / It | asked |
| We | asked |
| You (pl.) | asked |
| They | asked |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Ask ≠ demand
Demand = to ask very strongly, as if you have a right. Ask = to ask in a normal way. For a polite request, use ask: Can I ask you a question?
2. I asked help ❌
To say you want something, use ask for + noun: I asked for help. Ask alone goes with a question or a person: I asked a question. I asked my teacher.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of ask?+
Asked (regular, with -ed). The past participle is also asked.
Ask or demand: which one do I use?+
Ask = to ask in a normal way. Demand = to ask very strongly, as if you have a right. Many learners use demand when they mean ask, and it sounds rude.
When do you use ask for?+
Ask = to ask a question. Ask for + noun = to say that you want something (a thing, information, help). Ask for help. Ask for the bill.
What does asked her out mean?+
Ask someone out means to invite someone on a date. He asked her out!
What does don't ask mean?+
Don't ask! is an idiom. It means: please don't ask me about it, because the story is long or not nice. “How was your day?” “Don't ask!”
Related pages: ask Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/past-simple
© 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.
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More forms of the verb to ask are coming soon.