ask him to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ask him to take" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to request someone to prompt another person to take a specific action or item. Example: "Please ask him to take the documents to the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

This guy would ask him to take it outside.

The New York Times

Did Godolphin ask him to take his controversial stand?

The Guardian - Sport

More than one friend wondered why I didn't ask him to take it down.

The New York Times

"They shouldn't ask him to take shots outside of their system," Miller told me.

The New Yorker

But these days, Mr. McCarthy said, people mostly ask him to take poles down.

The New York Times

"If God want to take me, I ask him to take me right away.

The New York Times

Just don't ask him to take you south of the Mekong.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

He asked him to take deep breaths.

The New York Times - Magazine

Brigham Young ultimately asked him to take five additional wives.

The New Yorker

Another assistant asked him to take a picture.

The New York Times - Sports

"I asked him to take it with him when he went out to the pitch".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ask him to take", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being taken and why. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the request is understood.

Common error

Avoid using "ask him to take" in contexts requiring direct commands, such as emergency situations. A more direct verb like "tell" or "order" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ask him to take" functions as a request or instruction directed towards a third party, prompting them to influence another person's actions. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is widely used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ask him to take" is a common and versatile construction used to request or instruct someone to have another person perform an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, its function is to delegate responsibility or initiate action. When considering the level of formality, it generally maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both everyday conversations and more formal written communication. For scenarios requiring direct commands, it may be best to opt for a more direct alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request that he take

Replaces "ask" with the more formal "request" and uses "that" to introduce the clause.

get him to take

Employs a more informal, conversational tone to convey the request.

have him take

Uses a causative structure to express the request.

tell him to take

Replace "ask" with "tell" to sound more assertive and less polite.

enquire whether he'll take

Uses "enquire" to replace "ask", adding a layer of formality and politeness, and reformats the question into an indirect question.

direct him to take

Replaces "ask" with "direct", indicating a more authoritative instruction.

suggest that he take

Replace "ask" with "suggest" to imply less push and more consideration for the other person's decision.

invite him to take

Uses "invite" implies polite request.

charge him with taking

Uses "charge" which implies task delegation and responsibility.

solicit him to take

Replaces "ask" with "solicit", suggesting an attempt to persuade or obtain something from him.

FAQs

How can I use "ask him to take" in a sentence?

You can use "ask him to take" to request that someone prompt another person to perform an action. For example, "I'll ask him to take the documents to the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "ask him to take"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "request that he take", "direct him to take", or "tell him to take".

Is it more polite to say "ask him to take" or another phrase?

The level of politeness depends on the alternative. Phrases like "enquire whether he'll take" are more formal and polite, while "tell him to take" is more direct and less polite.

When should I use "ask him to take" instead of a more direct command?

Use "ask him to take" when you want to make a request rather than give an order. This is suitable in situations where you want to show respect or maintain a collaborative tone.