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ask somebody to do something or ask somebody for doing something??
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MBALOVER
Nov 25, 2011, 2:20:12 AM11/25/11
to
If I want to do something and I ask somebody permission to do it,
should I use:
"I ask him for doing something " or "I ask him to do something".
Thank you.
should I use:
"I ask him for doing something " or "I ask him to do something".
Thank you.
Marius Hancu
Nov 25, 2011, 4:03:58 AM11/25/11
to
I'll ask him to let me do it.
I'll ask him for permission to do it.
I'll ask him to allow/permit me to do it.
Marius Hancu
Donna Richoux
Nov 25, 2011, 5:49:21 AM11/25/11
to
can ask someone else to DO something.
I asked her to bring me some water. ( "Will you bring me some water,
please?")
I ask him to dance every time I go there.
I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
We don't know what tense the original poster intended. But "for" is
definitely impossible.
--
Best -- Donna Richoux
Marius Hancu
Nov 25, 2011, 8:04:14 AM11/25/11
to
On Nov 25, 5:49 am, t...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote:
>You
> can ask someone else to DO something.
>
> I asked her to bring me some water. ( "Will you bring me some water,
> please?")
> I ask him to dance every time I go there.
> I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
>
> We don't know what tense the original poster intended. But "for" is
> definitely impossible.
Marius Hancu
> Marius Hancu <marius.ha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Nov 25, 2:20 am, MBALOVER <mbalov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > If I want to do something and I ask somebody permission to do it,
> > > should I use:
>
> > > "I ask him for doing something " or "I ask him to do something".
>
> > No:
> > I'll ask him to let me do it.
> > I'll ask him for permission to do it.
> > I'll ask him to allow/permit me to do it.
>
> The original question wasn't about being allowed to do something.
Sorry, doesn't the OP mention in the above
> > On Nov 25, 2:20 am, MBALOVER <mbalov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > If I want to do something and I ask somebody permission to do it,
> > > should I use:
>
> > > "I ask him for doing something " or "I ask him to do something".
>
> > No:
> > I'll ask him to let me do it.
> > I'll ask him for permission to do it.
> > I'll ask him to allow/permit me to do it.
>
> The original question wasn't about being allowed to do something.
"and I ask somebody permission to do it"
??
>You
> can ask someone else to DO something.
>
> I asked her to bring me some water. ( "Will you bring me some water,
> please?")
> I ask him to dance every time I go there.
> I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
>
> We don't know what tense the original poster intended. But "for" is
> definitely impossible.
MBALOVER
Nov 25, 2011, 9:30:38 AM11/25/11
to
MBALOVER
Nov 25, 2011, 9:30:01 AM11/25/11
to
On Nov 25, 2:49 am, t...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote:
Thanks guys.
Donna, I would like to have a follow-up question. When I use " ask
somebody to do something", how the listener can know if I ask him for
permission to do it (i.e. the person being doing something is me) Or I
ask him to help me do it ( the person being doing something is him)?
Regards,
Donna, I would like to have a follow-up question. When I use " ask
somebody to do something", how the listener can know if I ask him for
permission to do it (i.e. the person being doing something is me) Or I
ask him to help me do it ( the person being doing something is him)?
Regards,
Donna Richoux
Nov 25, 2011, 11:50:36 AM11/25/11
to
Marius Hancu <marius...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 25, 5:49 am, t...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote:
> > Marius Hancu <marius.ha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Nov 25, 2:20 am, MBALOVER <mbalov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > If I want to do something and I ask somebody permission to do it,
> > > > should I use:
> >
> > > > "I ask him for doing something " or "I ask him to do something".
> >
> > > No:
> > > I'll ask him to let me do it.
> > > I'll ask him for permission to do it.
> > > I'll ask him to allow/permit me to do it.
> >
> > The original question wasn't about being allowed to do something.
>
> Sorry, doesn't the OP mention in the above
> "and I ask somebody permission to do it"
> ??
You're right, it was right there and I missed it.
> On Nov 25, 5:49 am, t...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote:
> > Marius Hancu <marius.ha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Nov 25, 2:20 am, MBALOVER <mbalov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > If I want to do something and I ask somebody permission to do it,
> > > > should I use:
> >
> > > > "I ask him for doing something " or "I ask him to do something".
> >
> > > No:
> > > I'll ask him to let me do it.
> > > I'll ask him for permission to do it.
> > > I'll ask him to allow/permit me to do it.
> >
> > The original question wasn't about being allowed to do something.
>
> Sorry, doesn't the OP mention in the above
> "and I ask somebody permission to do it"
> ??
--
Sorry about that -- Donna Richoux
Donna Richoux
Nov 25, 2011, 2:44:22 PM11/25/11
to
the same question twice. Once had a line about permission, and the other
one didn't. I must have read one and answered the other.
--
Whew -- Donna Richoux
Donna Richoux
Nov 25, 2011, 2:44:23 PM11/25/11
to
MBALOVER <mbal...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks guys.
> Donna, I would like to have a follow-up question. When I use " ask
> somebody to do something", how the listener can know if I ask him for
> permission to do it (i.e. the person being doing something is me) Or I
> ask him to help me do it ( the person being doing something is him)?
Okay, this is still confusing. For one thing, you can't say "being
> Thanks guys.
> Donna, I would like to have a follow-up question. When I use " ask
> somebody to do something", how the listener can know if I ask him for
> permission to do it (i.e. the person being doing something is me) Or I
> ask him to help me do it ( the person being doing something is him)?
doing". I think you mean "the person who is doing something is me" and
"the person who is doing something is him".
Second, there are several ways to ask for permission.
May I open this window?
Do you mind if I open this window?
Can I open this window? (Informal)
Is it all right if I open this window?
In every case, "I" is right next to "open". I will do the opening.
To ask for help:
Would you please help me (to) open this window?
That suggests you will both push on it together. The "to" is optional.
To ask that the other do it for you (while you stand back, watch, go
away...)
Would you please open this window? I've tried but it's stuck.
Can you open this window?
Could you please open this window?
Please help me, I can't open the window. Can you do it?
(Other possibilities)
Is your question in there somewhere?
MBALOVER
Nov 25, 2011, 6:38:15 PM11/25/11
to
On Nov 25, 11:44 am, t...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux) wrote:
Thanks for the answers. They are very helpful.
Back to your examples in the earlier post:
1. I ask him to dance every time I go there.
Can you tell me in this sentence who will dance ? the speaker or
somebody else?
2. I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
Similarly, In 2, who will stop working? the speaker or "they"?
Thank you.
Best,
Back to your examples in the earlier post:
1. I ask him to dance every time I go there.
Can you tell me in this sentence who will dance ? the speaker or
somebody else?
2. I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
Similarly, In 2, who will stop working? the speaker or "they"?
Thank you.
Best,
Donna Richoux
Nov 25, 2011, 8:00:07 PM11/25/11
to
MBALOVER <mbal...@gmail.com> wrote:
[snip]
lived in Boston, I often went to "contra dances," evenings of social
dance based on American folk tradition. For each dance, you need a
partner. The custom there is to change partners for each dance (a dance
would last 10-20 minutes). Women can ask men to be their dance partner,
unlike the old-fashioned custom where only men did the asking and women
had to wait around, hoping to be asked.
That's a long explanation of background. The sentence itself means,
every time I go there, I say to this guy, "Will you dance with me?"
I suppose the same sentence could apply to some other kind of dancing
where I was not asking for a partner, but asking to see a performance.
"Will you dance for me" instead of "Will you dance with me."
>
> 2. I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
>
> Similarly, In 2, who will stop working? the speaker or "they"?
>
Them. I will say to them, "Please stop working and go home," and they
will stop working (I hope), and they will go home (I hope).
I suppose it could possibly mean that after I ask them (to stop
working), then *I* will go home. As our friend Navi shows us, many
sentences are ambiguous. But usually one meaning is more likely.
[snip]
>
> Thanks for the answers. They are very helpful.
>
> Back to your examples in the earlier post:
>
> 1. I ask him to dance every time I go there.
>
> Can you tell me in this sentence who will dance ? the speaker or
> somebody else?
In the example I had in mind, "he" and I would dance together. When I
> Thanks for the answers. They are very helpful.
>
> Back to your examples in the earlier post:
>
> 1. I ask him to dance every time I go there.
>
> Can you tell me in this sentence who will dance ? the speaker or
> somebody else?
lived in Boston, I often went to "contra dances," evenings of social
dance based on American folk tradition. For each dance, you need a
partner. The custom there is to change partners for each dance (a dance
would last 10-20 minutes). Women can ask men to be their dance partner,
unlike the old-fashioned custom where only men did the asking and women
had to wait around, hoping to be asked.
That's a long explanation of background. The sentence itself means,
every time I go there, I say to this guy, "Will you dance with me?"
I suppose the same sentence could apply to some other kind of dancing
where I was not asking for a partner, but asking to see a performance.
"Will you dance for me" instead of "Will you dance with me."
>
> 2. I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
>
> Similarly, In 2, who will stop working? the speaker or "they"?
>
will stop working (I hope), and they will go home (I hope).
I suppose it could possibly mean that after I ask them (to stop
working), then *I* will go home. As our friend Navi shows us, many
sentences are ambiguous. But usually one meaning is more likely.
Marius Hancu
Nov 25, 2011, 11:22:08 PM11/25/11
to
or
just him (perhaps he's a Chippendale dancer:-)) for the speaker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chippendales
> 2. I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
>
> Similarly, In 2, who will stop working? the speaker or "they"?
For the speaker you need:
I'll ask them _to allow me_ to stop dancing now and go home.
Marius Hancu
Donna Richoux
Nov 26, 2011, 6:44:10 AM11/26/11
to
Marius Hancu <marius...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 25, 6:38 pm, MBALOVER <mbalov...@gmail.com> wrote:
[snip]
> On Nov 25, 6:38 pm, MBALOVER <mbalov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Back to your examples in the earlier post:
> >
> > 1. I ask him to dance every time I go there.
> >
> > Can you tell me in this sentence who will dance ? the speaker or
> > somebody else?
>
> The speaker and him (together)
> or
> just him (perhaps he's a Chippendale dancer:-)) for the speaker.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chippendales
>
> > 2. I'll ask them to stop working now and go home.
> >
> > Similarly, In 2, who will stop working? the speaker or "they"?
>
> They.
> For the speaker you need:
> I'll ask them _to allow me_ to stop dancing now and go home.
some language where what looks like "I will ask him to go home" means "I
will ask him IF I CAN go home" or similar? What language(s) would those
be?
MBALOVER
Nov 27, 2011, 12:24:40 AM11/27/11
to
>
> We don't know what tense the original poster intended. But "for" is
> definitely impossible.
>
> --
> Best -- Donna Richoux
I thought because we could say " ask somebody for something" and thus,
it were possible to replace "something" with a gerund to construct the
structure " ask somebody for doing something". Is it not correct?
Thanks
Donna Richoux
Nov 27, 2011, 5:20:43 AM11/27/11
to
You can "ask for" a noun, an object, a thing. But I can't think offhand
of any gerund that fits, or any verb form except the infinitive. You ask
someone "to do" something.
(OK) I will ask him to repair it.
I will ask for repairs. (rare but works sometimes)
(Not) *I will ask him repairing it.
*I will ask him for repairing it.
the Omrud
Nov 27, 2011, 5:22:50 AM11/27/11
to
--
David
MBALOVER
Nov 27, 2011, 12:14:57 PM11/27/11
to
Dr Nick
Nov 28, 2011, 12:43:11 PM11/28/11
to
risk of confusion) "if I may do it", but the former is commoner these
days.
--
Online waterways route planner | http://canalplan.eu
Plan trips, see photos, check facilities | http://canalplan.org.uk
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