Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
ask the way
English answer:
ask the way (correct)
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-04-14 02:54:08 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Apr 10, 2015 09:27
9 yrs ago
English term
ask the way
Non-PRO
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
General
I saw in some teaching material that the topic of a lesson is "Learn to ask the way", is this correct English expression? I think it should be "Learn to ask for the way". Thanks!
There are also expressions like "Go straight two blocks" (I think there should be "for" before 2 blocks) ; and "Go straight" without "ahead" after it.
There are also expressions like "Go straight two blocks" (I think there should be "for" before 2 blocks) ; and "Go straight" without "ahead" after it.
Responses
+8
8 mins
Arabic & More
Jordan
Jordan
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Jordan
Professional Writer and Translator
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, English
Related KudoZ points
:
52
Selected
ask the way (correct)
As a native speaker of US English, I would say that "ask the way" is correct. Here is an example of the expression on a university website:
https://ag.purdue.edu/connections/Pages/article.aspx?sid=24&...
https://ag.purdue.edu/connections/Pages/article.aspx?sid=24&...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
B D Finch
4 mins
|
| agree |
Victoria Britten
20 mins
|
| agree |
Armorel Young
: Absolutely, no doubt about it (ask the way, ask the time, but ask for help, ask for the salt)
21 mins
|
| agree |
magdadh
: absolutely
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Tushar Deep
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Jean-Claude Gouin
10 hrs
|
| agree |
Tony M
1 day 10 hrs
|
| agree |
Alok Tiwari
2 days 6 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+3
8 mins
ask the way / ask for directions
It sounds fine to me: normal, colloquial English. A more formal option would be "Learn to ask for directions". "Learn to ask for the way" is wrong and very stilted. "Go straight two blocks"
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Note added at 10 mins (2015-04-10 09:37:59 GMT)
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Oops, I hit Enter before I was ready to!
"Go straight two blocks" is not quite right. I suggest you ask another question, especially as neither of your suggested changes solves the problem with it.
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Note added at 10 mins (2015-04-10 09:37:59 GMT)
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Oops, I hit Enter before I was ready to!
"Go straight two blocks" is not quite right. I suggest you ask another question, especially as neither of your suggested changes solves the problem with it.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Arabic & More
0 min
|
|
Thanks Amel
|
|
| agree |
Tony M
1 day 10 hrs
|
|
Thanks Tony
|
|
| agree |
Alok Tiwari
2 days 6 hrs
|
|
Thanks Alok
|
16 mins
Sheila Wilson
Spain
Spain
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Spain
20 years producing 100% natural English
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
1 fine; 2 American English?
The first is correct as it is, without "for". The second has an American ring to it - not 100% sure if it's 'correct' US English but it could well be. Adding "for" is an option, though I personally would use the phrasal verb "straight on". These common expressions that are spoken more often than written rarely have one 'correct' form in English.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
B D Finch
: Ask the way to the station. Ask for the way to solve a problem. Ask for the way to salvation. The main problem with the second phrase (and "straight on", is not a phrasal verb) is the choice of verb.
13 mins
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I can't imagine what I was thinking about when I called it a phrasal verb; certainly not grammar!
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Discussion
I'm not sure what to make of your second paragraph: are you explaining why you're hesitating?