'Ask' and its objects

Question

I'd like to know if the objects of the verb 'ask' must follow an order. If so what is that order? Should the first object be the person (someone) or the thing (something)?

For example: Will you ask for that money to your mother? or Will you ask your mother for that money?

RedGrittyBrick · Accepted Answer

In general the order matters to some extent. Consider the following:

Ask for money.
  Ask your mother.
  Ask Tuesday.
  Ask on Tuesday for money.
  Ask for money on Tuesday.
  Ask your mother for money on Tuesday.
  Ask your mother on Tuesday for money.
  On Tuesday ask your mother for money.
  Ask your mother for money.
  Ask for money from your mother.

All the above are understandable.

The last form is rather ambiguous, you could be asking your brother to give you money that came from your mother. The penultimate sentence is preferable.

So, most often, You'd place the recipient of the request earlier in the sentence than what is being requested. Usually the recipient of the request would be first.

There are definitely preferred orders for sentences of this form but I don't know of any firm rules.

John Lawler · Answer

This is a transitive, but not bi- (or di-) transitive, use of the verb ask.
I.e, in this context it means 'request', rather than 'address a question to someone', and it has only a direct object,
rather than bitransitive ask, which has both direct and indirect objects.

She asked Harry what the answer was.
(bitransitive: Harry = indirect object, what the answer was = direct object)
She asked Harry for some help with her homework.
(transitive: Harry = direct object)

The thing that's requested is the object of for, and in fact if the object is indefinite, obvious, or irrelevant, it can be deleted, making ask for effectively equivalent to request.

She asked for/requested some help with her homework.

'Ask' and its objects

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