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Grammar fix

ask out

invite on a date

to invite someone to go with you to a social event, especially because you are interested in starting a romantic relationship with them

phrasal verbB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Tom finally got the courage to ask Lisa out after weeks of thinking about it.relationships
  • If I liked someone, I would probably ask them out for coffee to get to know them better.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: ask someone out

WrongHe asked out her to dinner.

RightHe asked her out to dinner.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'ask her out', never 'ask out her'.

Patternask someone out

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff He invited her to accompany him on a romantic outing.

Natural He asked her out.

'Ask out' is the natural verb for inviting someone on a date; the formal paraphrase is comical.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • ask someone out
    herhimon a datefinally

Don't confuse it

Not the same as 'ask for' (request something) or 'ask about' (inquire about something).

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