Home
Q&A
The English Word of the Day: Ask

The English Word of the Day: Ask

16
votes

to ask

(verb) preguntar; pedir


  • to look for an answer to a question (He is always asking me what I am thinking.) or to inquire (He asked about my pets.) => preguntar
  • to approach someone to do something, to make a request (He asked to see the manager.) => pedir
  • to invite (I asked him to lunch.) => invitar

Estamos buscando un corrector oficial de las frases en español para este hilo, así que si estás interesado, por favor envia un MP a rac1 o a mí.
Mientras tanto, maestroantonio se ha ofrecido amablemente a ayudarnos. Modifica tus frases según sus sugerencias, ¡por favor!
Hay muchos hablantes nativos de inglés aquí, entonces la mayoría de ellos puede ofrecer sugerencias a las frases en inglés. Voy a ayudar tanto como pueda, por supuesto.

Aquí están las directrices del juego:

  • Usa la palabra en una frase en inglés y añade la traducción al español. Intenta usar la palabra de una manera original.
  • Vota por las frases que más te gusten.
  • Escribe solamente frases que tengan, al menos, 5 palabras, pero no escribas párrafos con 4 frases o más
  • Haz las correcciones sugeridas por el corrector official.
  • ¡Usa tus propias palabras! (No uses el traductor, ni un libro, ni la letra de una canción.)
  • Respeta las reglas de SpanishDict.
  • ¡Disfruta de este juego de inglés!

We are looking for an official corrector of the Spanish sentences for this thread, so if you are interested, please send a PM to either rac1 or me.
In the meantime maestroantonio has kindly offered to help us out. Please edit your sentences according to his suggestions!
As there are lots of native English speakers here, most of them can offer suggestions to the English sentences. I shall try to help as much as I can too, of course.

Here are the rules of the game:

  • Use the word in an English sentence and add the Spanish translation of that sentence. Try to use the word in an original way.
  • Vote for the sentences that you like most.
  • Write sentences of at least 5 words, but don't write paragraphs of 4 sentences or more.
  • Correct your sentences according to the suggestions of the corrector.
  • Use your own words (and don't use a translator, a book, lyrics of a song, ...)
  • Respect the rules of SpanishDict.
  • Enjoy the game!

Mi frase/my sentence:

La gente espera que contestemos algo como "Estoy bien, gracias, ¿y tú?" cuando nos preguntan "¿Cómo estás?" a modo de saludo, en vez de compartir inmediatamente todos nuestros problemas personales.

People expect us to answer something like "I am fine, how are you?" when they ask us "How are you doing?" by way of greeting, instead of immediately sharing all our personal troubles.

enter image description here

6905 views
updated Jan 17, 2013
edited by mcl020
posted by mcl020
Hola. Thanks a lot, Mc and Meastroantonio. (oh, I guess there is a typo on the top: I think it should be "pedir = to ask" instead of "pider". ) - iana01, Jan 10, 2013
Great job Mc Meastroantonio , I second Iana Pedir = to ask!:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
"en vez de de" debes eleminar la palabra "de" duplicada ;) - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
Please check this post about "asking questions" http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/242542/preguntar-una-pregunta-to-ask-a-question-cmo-evitar-la-redundancia - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
@Iana and Mae, I did the correction Marijke, I think you might be sleeping do to time zones - bandit51jd, Jan 10, 2013
...due...:) - bandit51jd, Jan 10, 2013
If I did the conversion right that means you enjoyed 72.644 F! Es el tiemp del playa! - bandit51jd, Jan 10, 2013
O noooo, it's mid-winter here and around ?5 C? - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
Yesssss Iana, you're so right, it should be pedir. Thanks bandita for the correction. And thanks maestro for the link!! - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
Also thanks a lot for the correction maestro ;-) - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
MC, I know it was just a typing mistake, so it is not a big deal. You are great at what you are doing. Your English is perfect and Spanish too already. ;) Have a nice day, amiga. - iana01, Jan 11, 2013

20 Answers

8
votes

"Better to ask a question than to remain ignorant."(Proverb).

Es mejor preguntar que permanecer ignorante. enter image description here

updated Jan 17, 2013
edited by shish75
posted by shish75
Hello Iana ..good evening !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
True. Hello, Shish!:) - iana01, Jan 10, 2013
Good one. - RichSean1725, Jan 10, 2013
Es mejor preguntar que permanecer ignorante / Es mejor hacer una pregunta... - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
Grasias Maestroantonio !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
Thanks Richsean !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
Good one, Shish! - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
very true! - annierats, Jan 10, 2013
Thanks Annie !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
I love your photo again shish. Very nice. - 0095ca4c, Jan 10, 2013
Yes, beautiful picture and nice proverb. As always! ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
Thanks annierates & Margherite & mc !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
8
votes

There are no stupid questions; just ask.

No hay preguntas estúpidas, sólo pregunte.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by rac1
posted by rac1
sólo pregunte. - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
solo pregunte = ask alone / sólo pregunte = only ask - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
Gracias, Maestroanton! - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
on the other hand there are stupid answers. like this one....why did I post this ? is a very good question for myself ;-) - Aranjuez12, Jan 10, 2013
Lol - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
Those front paws!!! Wonderful picture! ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
The best question here .. Is there any mice around ? - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
I can see the cat really means it :-). - JazSpanish, Jan 10, 2013
Gato serio! - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
he is so handsome rac! i agree, no question is stupid because if we knew the answer, we wouldn't be asking! - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
7
votes

Ask and you shall receive.

Pide y se te concederá (o como en la Biblia: "Pedid y se os dará".)

Blockquote

updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by francobollo
Uhmmm ...... what do I want? I don't know yet, francoclaus ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
Salud. Lo demás viene solo... lol - francobollo, Jan 10, 2013
I'm so glad you were there when I asked franco...otherwise I'd stll be in the dark with the livestock. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
6
votes

He always asks after her in his letters.

Él siempre pregunta sobre ella en sus correos.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by iana01
posted by iana01
And should look after her when they meet !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
That's very kind of him ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
It would be better if he went to see her! :)). Buenos días, Iana! - Noetol, Jan 11, 2013
It's been a while since I've heard that phrase Iana. Nice. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
6
votes

Como seres humanos nos preguntamos¿ de dónde venimos? ¿por qué estamos aquí? y ¿a dónde vamos?

As human beings we ask ourselves where we come form, why we're here and where we're going.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by annierats
posted by annierats
This is the beautiful eye of God .. Nice one annierates !:). - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
Me pregunto las mismas preguntas cuendo estoy perdida en un lugar desconocido :-). - JazSpanish, Jan 10, 2013
Me hago las mismas preguntas... (para evitar la redundancia) - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
This is what shapes our worldview, these very questions. - katydew, Jan 10, 2013
Perfect : ) - Ranman, Jan 10, 2013
¡Qué hermoso! - Aranjuez12, Jan 10, 2013
Hubble photo. Increíble. - annierats, Jan 10, 2013
They are questions shared by almost everyone annie. - 0095ca4c, Jan 10, 2013
Deep one, annierats, and a good one at that ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
gracias! - annierats, Jan 10, 2013
Good one, Annie! - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

Si tienes que preguntar el precio, no puedes pagarlo.

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

enter image description here

updated Jan 12, 2013
edited by Noetol
posted by Noetol
Si tienes que preguntar el precio, no puedes pagarlo - maestroantonio, Jan 11, 2013
Thanks, Maestro! - Noetol, Jan 11, 2013
I have heard that one, and so true it is. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
It usually is true, yes ;-) - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
True, but it's fun to ask sometimes and then say "but if you had it in pink, I would take it." - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

"No pregunte lo que su país puede hacer por usted, mejor pregunte lo que usted puede hacer por su país" Presidente JFK

"Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country"

President JFK

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by gohern
posted by gohern
Very good post! - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
That's a clever thing to say for a president as it would enlighten his task considerably ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
Gracias - gohern, Jan 10, 2013
This makes me wonder how many people would ask themselves that question. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
No pregunte lo que su país puede hacer por usted, mejor pregunte lo que usted puede hacer por su país - maestroantonio, Jan 11, 2013
Gracias maestroanton! - gohern, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

No pido nada solamente la serie completa en disco de "alf". Me encantan las películas de terror.

I don't ask for anything, only the complete serie on disk of Alf. I love horror movies.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by Aranjuez12
very cute - 0095ca4c, Jan 10, 2013
Sweet! Only ..... Alf is no horror (if we're talking about that orange extra-terrestrial being). - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
aha but what did Alf like to eat! Lucky! - Aranjuez12, Jan 10, 2013
I only concentrated on Alf, I guess, because I cannot remember that ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
5
votes

Si se me pregunta, esa es una pregunta peligrosa.

If you ask me, that is a loaded question.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by 0095ca4c
Yes, that really is a dangerous, loaded question ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
nice illustration. ;-) - JazSpanish, Jan 10, 2013
:) - rogspax, Jan 10, 2013
5
votes

One day I won't ask so many questions, but I suggest you don´t hold your breath.

Algun día no voy a hacer tantas preguntas, pero sugiero que no retengas la respiración.

.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by rogspax
posted by rogspax
Algun día no voy a hacer tantas preguntas... (voy a) - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
We like your questions ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
In her case, holding her breath is a good thing! :)) - Noetol, Jan 11, 2013
Lol - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
Arghh, I hate it when I forget that stuff. Thanks for the assist. - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
Practicing the subjunctive? :D - GraceM, Jan 11, 2013
Obviously this is the lightening round. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

Many relationships go awry because neither asks for what they need, but instead they expect the other to mindread what has never been voiced.

Muchas relaciones decepcionan porque ninguno pide lo que necesita, sin embargo pero en vez de esto esperan que el la otro lea lecturar de pensamiento lo que nunca se ha había expresado.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by katydew
posted by katydew
...necesta, sin embargo esperan que el otro lea lo que nunca... - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
True to form! - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
So trew; ) - Ranman, Jan 10, 2013
Very, very true! - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
...lo que nunca se ha expresado. - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
That's because men have selective hearing! :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

There are many types of questions one can ask: simple ones, tough ones, rhetorical ones, and perhaps best of all, the kind that make you really stop and think.

Hay muchas clases de preguntas que se pueden hacer: las simples, las difíciles, las retóricas, y tal vez el mejor tipo de todos; las que realmente te hacen parar y pensar profundamente.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by PumpkinCalabaza
posted by PumpkinCalabaza
Good one, pumpkin.:) - iana01, Jan 10, 2013
Hola pumpkin .. How are you ? - shish75, Jan 10, 2013
preguntas que se pueden hacer/ plantear (preguntas que se pueden preguntar is repetitive) - maestroantonio, Jan 10, 2013
Great illustration! : ) - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
Nice drawing & good sentence ;-) - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
Hi Pumpkin! I love your post and photo. Sorry I'm late with this...it's been one of those days. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

Si no quieres saber la respuesta, no preguntes.

If you don’t want to know the answer, don’t ask.

enter image description here

updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by JazSpanish
Oh, so true! - rac1, Jan 10, 2013
If you ask no questions, you will be told no lies. - annierats, Jan 10, 2013
I want to know the answer but I don't know what to ask. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 10, 2013
Usually these are the answers that you do need somehow ... - mcl020, Jan 10, 2013
4
votes

Te pido que dejes de hacer tanto ruido. Me duelen los oídos.

I ask that you stop making so much noise. My ears hurt.

enter image description here

updated Jan 12, 2013
edited by GraceM
posted by GraceM
But they're wonderful swimmers! - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
Is (s)he asking you or vice versa? Because these animals sure can make a lot of noise! - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
They are very noisy. That's a great photo GraceM. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Hi, Margherite. :) Mcl, I'm requesting that he stop making so much noise. Unfortunately, he can't hear me making my request. - GraceM, Jan 11, 2013
3
votes

enter image description here

Once again, I asked him for a pony and didn't get one.

Otra vez, le pedí un poni y no lo recibí.

updated Jan 12, 2013
posted by mstivers
Ahhhhh .... maybe next year ;-) - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
He may have had a spare reindeer. - ian-hill, Jan 11, 2013