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When do we use pedir (to ask for) and when do we use preguntar (to ask)?
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
We use pedir (to ask for) when asking for favors, services or inanimate objects, and we never use a preposition with it (pedir already means to ask for or to request, we will never use it with por or para).
Here are some examples:
|
Juan le pidió un favor a María. |
Juan asked María for a favor. |
|
Beatriz me pidió un vaso de agua. |
Beatriz asked me for a glass of water. |
|
¿Puedes pedirle la cuenta al camarero, por favor? |
Can you ask the waiter for the check, please? |
|
No me pidas eso. |
Don’t ask me for that. |
|
¿Lo pedirás? |
Will you ask for it? |
We use preguntar (to ask) for questions or for inquiring “about something”.
Here are some examples:
|
Le pregunté sobre su familia. |
I asked him/her about his/her family. |
|
María me preguntó sobre el asunto. |
María asked me about the matter. |
|
Finalmente le pregunté la pregunta. |
I finally asked him/her the question. |
Verbo de la semana:
Entrenar (to train)
|
Alberto entrena cada día en el gimnasio. |
Alberto trains every day at the gym. |
|
¿Entrenaste ayer? |
Did you train yesterday? |
|
Para ser un nadador profesional, tienes que entrenar cada día, todo el día. |
In order to be a professional swimmer, you have to train every day, all day long. |
La Eñe 