Cool MateInquire vs Investigate vs It's my job to ask questions vs Probe vs Question
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Inquire
Investigate
It's my job to ask questions
Probe
Question
| Inquire | Investigate | It's my job to ask questions | Probe | Question | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkwaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkwaɪər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪts/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪd/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪts/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪd/","/ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪts maɪ dʒɒb tə ɑːsk ˈkwɛsʧənz//🇺🇸 //ɪts maɪ dʒɑːb tə æsk ˈkwɛstʃənz// | 🇬🇧 //prəʊb//🇺🇸 //proʊb// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwestʃən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwestʃən/"]/ |
| Meaning | to ask about something | To look into something closely to find out more information. | I have the responsibility to ask questions. | A tool to investigate or explore something deeply. | A sentence or phrase that asks for information. |
| Example | I called the school to inquire about the application process. | The police will investigate the crime scene for new evidence. | In this role, it's my job to ask questions. | The scientists sent a probe to study the surface of Mars. | The teacher asked a difficult question during the exam. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 | - | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | inquire about, inquire into, inquire if, inquire regarding, inquire as to | carefully, closely, in detail, ask somebody to, be called in to, decide to, for, carefully, closely, in detail, ask somebody to, be called in to, decide to, for | ask the right questions, job responsibilities, role in the team | space probe, medical probe, investigative probe, deep probe | awkward, difficult, embarrassing, ask (somebody), have, address, question about, question as to, question concerning to, awkward, difficult, embarrassing, ask (somebody), have, address, question about, question as to, question concerning to, burning, challenging, controversial, bring up, pose, raise, arise, go unanswered, remain unanswered, question about, question for, question of, come into, call into, be open to, beyond question, in question, without question |
| Antonyms | ignore, disregard, ignore | ignore, overlook, disregard | ignore inquiries, remain silent | ignore, avoid | answer, solution |
| Common mistakes | Using 'inquire' instead of 'require'., Confusing 'inquire' with 'enquire' (especially in British English)., Using 'inquire' without a specific subject (e.g., 'I want to inquire the details' instead of 'I want to inquire about the details'). | Confusing with 'invest' which relates to money or resources., Using as an intransitive verb; it requires an object (e.g., 'investigate the issue')., Mixing up with synonyms like 'examine' without understanding the context. | Misusing 'it's' versus 'its' - 'it's' means 'it is'., 'To ask questions' might be confused with 'asking questions' in different contexts., Omitting 'my' can make the sentence unclear. | Confused with 'probe' as a verb instead of a noun., Used too generically; may not be appropriate in informal contexts. | Confusing 'question' with 'query' in formal contexts., Using 'questions' as a singular noun, e.g., 'I have a question' instead of 'I have questions.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'inquire' in formal contexts, such as business or official situations. It's less common in everyday conversation, where 'ask' is preferred. Avoid using it in informal settings. | Commonly used in formal contexts, especially in journalism, research, or law enforcement. It may not be seen as appropriate in casual conversations. | Use this phrase in professional settings when explaining responsibilities. It's less appropriate in casual conversations. | Used in scientific and technical contexts, as well as metaphorically in discussions about examining issues. Not commonly used in casual conversation. | Use 'question' in both formal and informal settings. It's appropriate in classrooms, interviews, and casual conversations. Avoid using in situations where a statement is expected. |
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Frequently asked questions: Inquire vs Investigate vs It's my job to ask questions vs Probe vs Question
What's the difference between Inquire, Investigate, It's my job to ask questions, Probe, and Question?
Inquire: to ask about something Investigate: To look into something closely to find out more information. It's my job to ask questions: I have the responsibility to ask questions. Probe: A tool to investigate or explore something deeply. Question: A sentence or phrase that asks for information.
Which is more formal: Inquire, Investigate, It's my job to ask questions, Probe, and Question?
Inquire is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Inquire, Investigate, It's my job to ask questions, Probe, and Question?
Question is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Inquire, Investigate, It's my job to ask questions, Probe, and Question?
Probe is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Inquire: I called the school to inquire about the application process. Investigate: The police will investigate the crime scene for new evidence. It's my job to ask questions: In this role, it's my job to ask questions. Probe: The scientists sent a probe to study the surface of Mars. Question: The teacher asked a difficult question during the exam.
Can I use Inquire, Investigate, It's my job to ask questions, Probe, and Question interchangeably?
Not always. Inquire, Investigate, It's my job to ask questions, Probe, and Question 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.