Meaning
Today's Sentences
01
I’ll ask around.
Situation
The cafe has been super busy lately.
That’s great!
You must be short on staff then.
那你們一定人手不足。
Actually, I’m looking for an extra barista.
I’ll ask around for you.
02
Have you asked around about him?
Situation
We’ve had some items stolen from the garage recently.
Really?
And we’ve seen a strange man in the neighborhood.
Have you asked around about him?
Writer's Note
The phrasal verb "ask around" is classified as an intransitive and inseparable phrasal verb.
1. Intransitive - It does not take a direct object to make sense.
Correct Example: I didn’t know the answer, so I asked around.
👉 Here, "asked around" stands alone as the action. There's no direct object receiving the action of ask.
👉 在這裡，「asked around」作為一個完整的動作。沒有直接受詞來接收ask的動作。
Incorrect Example: I asked around my friends.
👉 This sounds awkward and incorrect because it makes my friends the direct object of ask around, which doesn't work with this phrasal verb.
👉 這聽起來很別扭且不正確，因為它使 my friends 成為 ask around 的直接受詞，而這個片語動詞不能這樣使用。
2. Inseparable - You cannot place an object between ask and around.
Example: I asked around for a good mechanic.
Related words: Check, enquire, find out, inform, inquire, investigate.
