Cool MateAsk him vs Request
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ask him
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Request
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Request
| Ask him | Request | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɑːsk hɪm//🇺🇸 //æsk hɪm// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈkwest/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈkwest/"]/ |
| Meaning | To request information or help from him. | to ask for something |
| Example | You should always ask him for advice before making decisions. | I would like to make a request for a day off next week. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | ask him a question, ask him for help, ask him to join, ask him about his day | special, legitimate, reasonable, make, put in, send, at somebody’s request, by request, on request, available on request, available upon request, by popular request, special, legitimate, reasonable, make, put in, send, at somebody’s request, by request, on request, available on request, available upon request, by popular request |
| Antonyms | - | refuse, decline |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'him' and saying just 'ask' without the object., Using incorrect pronouns like 'her' instead of 'him'. | Using 'request' with a different preposition, such as 'request for'., Confusing 'request' with 'require'., Not using it in the correct form, like 'requested' instead of 'requesting'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'ask him' in casual or formal conversations when requesting someone to do something or to seek information. Avoid in very formal writing. | Used in polite or formal contexts. It may sound too formal for casual conversations, where simpler words like 'ask' are preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Ask him vs Request
What's the difference between Ask him and Request?
Ask him: To request information or help from him. Request: to ask for something
Which is more common: Ask him and Request?
Request is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Ask him: You should always ask him for advice before making decisions. Request: I would like to make a request for a day off next week.
Can I use Ask him and Request interchangeably?
Not always. Ask him and Request are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.