The phrase "and asks in a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a request or inquiry made in a specific manner or context.
Example: "She approached him and asks in a gentle tone if he needed help with his project."
Alternatives: "and inquires in a" or "and requests in a".
The woman approaches again and asks in a stern voice, "Miss, do you know how far to Dunquin?" She is Irish.
"They say, 'Are you Jean Peters?' and she frowns and asks in a puzzled voice, 'Who is Jean Peters?' It always works.
One man, a regular shuttle rider with thick-rimmed glasses, first asks her jovially, "Can you hail me a shuttle, Miss?" Then he leans in close and asks in a knowing tone, "Is today going to be a good day?" Ms. Mendez, a transit employee for 15 years, leans in and replies.
"Masa turns to me and asks, 'In a fight, who wins--the smart guy or the crazy guy?' " Neumann says.
She picks mournfully at the plaques until her date drops his fork and asks in a stern whisper why she must make her illnesses so 'showy' and 'disruptive' to everyone around her, which finally allows her to feel at home.
Later, another child approached Judah and asked in a worried voice, "Your daddy died?" Judah nodded.
It was really funny when people would lean in close and ask, in a whisper, if we were about GMOs.
A customer approached and asked in a very heavy, Eastern European accent whether the store had a CD about a big boat.
In August , 1949 Life published photographs of Jackson Pollock's "drip" paintings, and asked in a headline whether Pollock was "the Greatest Living Painter in the United States".
She threw back her head and asked in a faint but friendly voice, "Is this all right?" I couldn't believe Marilyn Monroe was actuallyspeaking to me.
One man stopped in front of the body and asked, in a resounding voice,, "Why?" Then he hurried out of the funeral home.
