asked you what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "asked you what" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about something that was previously asked or when seeking clarification on a question posed to someone. Example: "I remember you asked me something earlier, but I can't recall what you asked you what."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

And then finally he asked, "You what?

The New Yorker

"I asked you what YOU call it".

The New Yorker

If Tom asked you what you thought of his performance, what would you say?

The New Yorker

We asked you what you liked and disliked (crowd-sourced from Facebook of course).

Independent

If they had asked you, what would you put on the list of ideas for the future?

The New York Times

Last week we asked you what you wanted me to liveblog.

The Guardian - Film

We asked you what you think about low level disruption – here is what you told us.

The Guardian

Yesterday we asked you what you would do if you ruled the country.

The Guardian

"If I asked you what a photograph is, it could be many things.

The New York Times

I asked you what the title was. A. You said did it not warn of attacks.

The New York Times

We asked you what you could do with the data and here is what one user has created.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When the focus is on the answer or the opinion, consider rewriting with /s/asked+your+opinion+on to specifically state that.

Common error

Avoid using “asked you what” when the focus is on the topic of the conversation rather than the specific wording of the question. In such cases, rephrase to clarify the subject of discussion, such as “They asked about your experience” instead of “They “asked you what” your experience was”.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asked you what" functions as an indirect question, often used in reported speech or to inquire about the specific content of a question that was posed to someone. It directly quotes, or seeks to clarify, the inquiry made.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "asked you what" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to report or inquire about the content of a question. According to Ludwig, it is generally correct and usable in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it also appears in scientific and formal business settings. While alternatives like "inquired what" or "questioned about" exist for specific contexts, "asked you what" remains a versatile and commonly understood way to discuss a previous inquiry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inquired what you thought

Formal alternative using "inquired" instead of "asked".

questioned you about

Focuses on questioning, implying a more formal or investigatory tone.

wanted to know what you

More direct and conversational, highlighting the desire for information.

asked your opinion on

Specifically seeks an opinion, narrowing the scope of the inquiry.

what did you say when asked

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the response to the question.

what was your response when asked

Similar to the previous one, focusing on the reaction.

what did they ask you

More direct and conversational, focusing on what was asked.

what were you asked

Passive voice construction of the original query, implying a formal setting or lack of direct engagement.

what was the question they posed

Focuses on the specific question asked.

what inquiry was made of you

Very formal and somewhat archaic, using "inquiry" and passive voice.

FAQs

How can I use "asked you what" in a sentence?

The phrase "asked you what" is used to report or inquire about the content of a question previously posed to someone. For instance, "He "asked you what" your plans were for the summer."

What are some alternatives to "asked you what"?

You can use alternatives like "inquired what you thought", "questioned you about", or "wanted to know what you" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "asked you what" and "asked you about"?

"Asked you what" is used when reporting the exact question, while "asked you about" refers to the general topic of the inquiry. For example, "He "asked you what" time you would arrive" versus "He asked you about your travel plans".

Is "asked you what" formal or informal?

The phrase "asked you what" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, using more formal alternatives like /s/inquired+what might be preferable in highly formal writing.