ASK OUT – Phrasal Verb
What is the Meaning of ASK OUT?
English Phrasal Verb – Definition & Example Sentences
ask someone out
Definition:
invite someone to go on a date
What is a date? A date is when you invite someone to go someplace with you, such as a restaurant, because you are interested in that person romantically.
Is asking someone out the same as dating them?
No, typically going on one date with someone is not the same as “dating” them.
You are “dating” when there is a mutual understanding that you have a relationship with one another.
When a relationship is new, every time you respond “yes” when that person asks you out, and you go out together, you are signalling that you are interested in building a relationship with that person.
This is typically the meaning of ASK OUT among Canadian adults. However, in some social circles (e.g., among some teen groups), to ask someone out means to ask them to be your girlfriend or boyfriend.
Examples of ASK OUT in Sentences:
1. John is too shy to ask Jennifer out.
2. He asked her out three times last week. She finds it awkward because she isn’t interested in him.
3. “Are you going to ask him out?”
4. “I have wanted to ask you out since we met, but I was afraid that you would say ‘no’.”
WATCH MORE PHRASAL VERB VIDEOS
| present – | ASK OUT |
| present participle – | ASKING OUT |
| past – | ASKED OUT |
| past participle – | ASKED OUT |
LEARN MORE ABOUT PHRASAL VERBS
What are Phrasal Verbs?
Definition
PHRASAL VERBS are sometimes called two-word or three-word verbs, or verb phrases.
A Phrasal Verb is a verb plus a particle. A particle is a small word. Usually, but not always, the particle is a preposition.
Many Phrasal Verbs are idiomatic. This means that if you know the meaning of the individual words, it will not help you understand the meaning of the Phrasal Verb. When the words are put together, the meaning changes.
For example, your friend tells you that he is going to give up smoking. You know that give means to make a present of something, and that up is a direction. You are confused! Knowing the meaning of give and the meaning of up is no help at all when someone says they are going to give up something.
But if you know that the Phrasal Verb give up means to quit doing something, then you know that your friend plans to stop smoking.
Why Learn Phrasal Verbs?
Many of our students have told us that they studied English for years in their home country, but when they arrived in Canada, they could not understand what people were saying.
One of the main reasons for this is that no one had taught them Phrasal Verbs.
Spoken English is filled with Phrasal Verbs and yet very few schools teach them. If you want to have conversations with English speakers, you MUST learn Phrasal Verbs.
Do you want better English?
You need to learn phrasal verbs if you want to have English conversations.
You need to know phrasal verbs if you want to immigrate and succeed in a country where English is a primary language, such as Canada or the U.S.
How to Learn Phrasal Verbs
Learn phrasal verbs the same way you learn vocabulary. There is no magic trick for phrasal verbs. Like vocabulary, you need to memorize them and practice using them.
Don’t waste time learning uncommon vocabulary words. You can use a translator app for those words!
Spend your time focusing on what you need.
Grammar Rules for Phrasal Verbs
Here is a simple overview of the rules for Phrasal Verbs.
There are two kinds of Phrasal Verbs – inseparable and separable.
1. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs are easy. You use them the same way you would use any main verb.
Inseparable means “not separable”. You cannot separate the parts of these phrasal verbs. The phrasal verb must stay together as though it were one word.
e.g., Check out means to pay your bill and return your key card when you leave a hotel. “We should check out at 11:00 am.”
2. Separable Phrasal Verbs can be kept together or separated.
When you separate the words in a Separable Phrasal Verb, put the OBJECT between the two parts of the Phrasal Verb.
For example, because ask out is a separable phrasal verb, the two sentences below are both correct.
1) He wants toask out your cousin.
2) He wants to ask your cousin out.
Many Phrasal Verbs have more than one meaning. Not all the definitions are included on this website.
