English UsageComparison guide

Ask Someone To Do vs. Ask Doing

When ask means request an action from a person, Cambridge documents ask + person + to-infinitive. Bare “ask doing” is not the ordinary request complement for that meaning.

Reviewed2026-09-26Evidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage

Quick answer

Use “ask someone to do something” when requesting that person’s action. Do not use “ask doing something” as a direct substitute.

Key details

Confusion Familygrammar-and-usage distinction

Rule Familyverb-complement and object pattern

TermsAsk Someone To Do, Ask Doing

Choose the right form

Decision table for Ask Someone To Do vs. Ask Doing
Meaning	Pattern	Example
request another person’s action	ask + person + to-infinitive	ask Lee to call
request a thing	ask for + noun	ask for help
raise a topic/question	ask about + noun/clause	ask about the schedule

Quick tests

Requested-actor test

Are you requesting that a named person perform the action?

If yes: Use “ask + person + to-infinitive.”

If no: Choose ask for/about or another documented ask pattern if the complement has a different role.

Caveat: “Ask to do” without a person object can be valid for requesting permission/opportunity; that is still different from bare “ask + -ing.”

Examples

Example

I asked Priya to send the revised file.

The named person is requested to act.

Example

He asked for more time.

A noun phrase follows “for.”

Incorrect

I asked sending the revised file.

Better: I asked Priya to send the revised file.

Bare “ask + -ing” is not the reviewed request pattern.

Further guidance

Boundary

“Ask to do something” without a person object can be standard when the subject requests permission or an opportunity to do the action; that is different from bare “ask doing.”

Construction

Ask supports a person object followed by a to-infinitive for requested actions; it also has separate ask for, ask about, question, permission, and clause patterns.

Decision

Use object + to-infinitive for a requested action by a named person. Choose ask for/about or another documented pattern when the meaning is different.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

ask — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Ask + person + to-infinitive for requesting an action

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