ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ask in

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford

phr. v.. to invite someone who is at your door to come inside your house or a room.

phr. v.. to invite a person to enter a building or room, typically upon their arrival at the entrance.


SIMPLE

The neighbor is at the door, so please ask him in.

CONTEXTUAL

It was starting to rain, so she quickly asked the delivery driver in while she looked for her wallet.

COMPLEX

Although they were in the middle of a private discussion, they felt it would be rude not to ask the visitor in for a coffee.

Particles
in
Separability
optional
Pattern
ask + object + in
Usage

this is a transitive phrasal verb that requires an object, usually a person.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'invite over', which implies a planned social event, whereas 'ask in' usually happens spontaneously at the doorstep.

Pitfall

I asked in him.I asked him in.when the object is a pronoun like 'him' or 'her', it must go between the verb and the particle.

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