asked him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "asked him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation where someone inquired or posed a question to another person. Example: "She asked him if he would like to join the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So I asked him.

The New Yorker

I asked him again.

The New York Times

You haven't asked him.

The New Yorker

She asked him why.

The New York Times

"I asked him: 'How?

The New York Times

We never asked him.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Mali," she asked him.

The New Yorker

They asked him themselves.

The New Yorker

We asked him.

The New York Times

"Taliban?" I asked him.

The New Yorker

Mishazzo asked him questions.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "asked him", ensure the context clearly indicates what the question was about, either directly or through implication. For example, follow up with a 'why' or 'what' clause for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "asked him" without providing any context about the question. This can leave the reader wondering what was asked and reduce the effectiveness of your writing. Always clarify the subject of the inquiry.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asked him" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "asked" is the main verb indicating the action of questioning and "him" is the object pronoun, representing the person being questioned. Ludwig AI examples show this phrase used in direct and indirect speech contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "asked him" is a very common and grammatically correct way to describe an act of questioning. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, indicating its widespread use in reporting and narration. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, the surrounding context can influence the overall formality. For clarity, it's best practice to provide some indication of the question's content or subject. Alternatives like "inquired of him" or "questioned him" can be used to vary your writing, though ""asked him"" remains a versatile and widely understood choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questioned him

A direct synonym for "asked", but can imply a more formal or intense interrogation.

inquired of him

Replaces the more common "asked" with the slightly more formal "inquired".

put a question to him

Emphasizes the act of posing a question.

posed a question to him

Similar to "put a question to him", highlighting the formal act of questioning.

approached him with a question

Describes the action of initiating a conversation to ask something.

requested information from him

Focuses on the intent of obtaining specific details.

had a query for him

Emphasizes that there was a question needing to be asked.

interrogated him

Suggests a more formal and potentially adversarial questioning.

sought his opinion

Highlights the desire to learn his perspective or viewpoint.

consulted with him

Indicates a discussion aimed at gathering advice or insights.

FAQs

How do I use "asked him" in a sentence?

Use "asked him" when you want to indicate that someone posed a question to a male individual. For example: "She "asked him" about his day."

What's a more formal way to say "asked him"?

A more formal alternative to "asked him" is "inquired of him". This is suitable for professional or academic writing.

What can I say instead of "asked him" to show a more aggressive line of questioning?

If you want to convey a more intense or aggressive line of questioning, you could use "interrogated him". This implies a more formal and potentially adversarial context.

Is it always necessary to specify the question after saying "asked him"?

While not always necessary, providing context about the question after using "asked him" can significantly improve clarity. For example, "She "asked him" why he was late" is clearer than simply saying, "She "asked him"".