Ask Difference

Ask vs. Give — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 4, 2024
Asking involves requesting information, help, or items, often implying a need or desire; giving refers to freely transferring something one owns to another, showing generosity or obligation.
Ask vs. Give — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Ask and Give

ADVERTISEMENT

Key Differences

Asking is the act of requesting something from someone else, which could be information, help, or a specific item. This indicates a need or desire for assistance or information. Whereas, giving involves transferring something you own to someone else without expecting it back, often driven by generosity, obligation, or care.
When someone asks, they initiate a communication that requires a response, indicating reliance on another's knowledge, resources, or capacities. On the other hand, giving is a unilateral action that does not necessarily require a prior request and reflects the giver's intent to benefit someone else.
The context in which asking is used often involves seeking permission or clarification, which depends on the approval or information from others. In contrast, giving is typically an act of kindness or duty, where the giver has autonomy over what and when to give.
Asking can be a more passive form of interaction because it places the onus on another party to provide, respond, or approve. Conversely, giving is an active form of interaction that involves a deliberate choice to relinquish control over something, impacting another's situation directly.
Both asking and giving are fundamental social interactions but serve different relational functions: asking opens a dialogue based on need or curiosity, while giving closes a need gap or expresses personal feelings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Comparison Chart

Definition

Requesting something from others
Freely transferring something to others

Implication

Need, desire
Generosity, obligation

Dependency

Dependent on another’s response
Independent of recipient’s actions

Typical Context

Information, help, permission
Gifts, charity, help

Nature of Action

Reactive, initiating interaction
Proactive, concluding interaction

Compare with Definitions

Ask

To request information or guidance.
She asked for directions to the nearest gas station.

Give

To transfer ownership of something.
They gave their old books to the library.

Ask

To inquire about something specific.
Asking about the weather, she called her mom.

Give

To present something as a gift.
She enjoyed giving handmade cards on special occasions.

Ask

To pose a question.
During the meeting, he asked about the project's deadline.

Give

To offer something without expecting return.
Giving advice to young entrepreneurs is her passion.

Ask

To seek help or support.
He asked his friend to help him move.

Give

To provide support or help freely.
He gave his time to tutor students after school.

Ask

To put a question to
When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher.

Give

To impart, provide, or supply.
The seminar gave insights into effective business strategies.

Ask

To seek an answer to
Ask a question.

Give

Freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone)
He gave the papers back
The cheque given to the jeweller proved worthless
She gave him presents and clothes

Ask

To seek information about
Asked directions.

Give

Cause or allow (someone or something) to have or experience (something); provide with
You gave me such a fright
This leaflet gives our opening times

Ask

To make a request of
Asked me for a loan.

Give

Carry out or perform (a specified action)
He gave the counter a polish
I gave a bow

Ask

To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause
Ask a favor of a friend.
Asked to go along on the trip.
Asked that he be allowed to stay out late.

Give

Yield as a product or result
Milk is sometimes added to give a richer cheese

Ask

To require or call for as a price or condition
Asked ten dollars for the book.

Give

Concede (something) as valid or deserved in respect of (someone)
Give him his due

Ask

To expect or demand
Ask too much of a child.

Give

State or put forward (information or argument)
He did not give his name

Ask

To invite
Asked them to dinner.

Give

Alter in shape under pressure rather than resist or break
That chair doesn't give

Ask

(Archaic)To publish, as marriage banns.

Give

Capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure
Plastic pots that have enough give to accommodate the vigorous roots

Ask

To make inquiry; seek information.

Give

To make a present of
We gave her flowers for her birthday.

Ask

To make a request
Asked for help.

Give

To place in the hands of; pass
Give me the scissors.

Ask

The act of making a request
“He was contacted by the mayor's fund-raiser ... a day after the mayor made the ask” (Jennifer Fermino).

Give

To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay
Gave five dollars for the book.

Ask

Something that is requested
“Being funny on demand is a big ask” (Anne Curzan).

Give

To let go for a price; sell
Gave the used car away for two thousand dollars.

Ask

To request (information, or an answer to a question).
I asked her age.
I asked her (for) her age.

Give

To administer
Give him some cough medicine.

Ask

To put forward (a question) to be answered.
To ask a question

Give

To convey by a physical action
Gave me a punch in the nose.

Ask

To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
I'm going to ask this lady for directions.

Give

To inflict as punishment
Was given life imprisonment for the crime.

Ask

To request or petition; usually with for.
To ask for a second helping at dinner
To ask for help with homework
Emma asked Jim to close his eyes.

Give

To bestow, especially officially; confer
The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.

Ask

To request permission to do something.
She asked to see the doctor.
Did you ask to use the car?

Give

To accord or tender to another
Give him your confidence.

Ask

To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
What price are you asking for the house?

Give

To put temporarily at the disposal of
Gave them the cottage for a week.

Ask

To invite.
Don't ask them to the wedding.

Give

To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason
Gave me the keys for safekeeping.

Ask

To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.

Give

To communicate, convey, or offer for conveyance
Give him my best wishes. Give us the latest news.

Ask

(figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.

Give

To endure the loss of; sacrifice
Gave her son to the war.
Gave her life for her country.

Ask

An act or instance of asking.

Give

To devote or apply completely
Gives herself to her work.

Ask

Something asked or asked for.
I know this is a big ask, but …

Give

To furnish or contribute
Gave their time to help others.

Ask

An asking price.

Give

To offer in good faith; pledge
Give me your word.

Ask

(Internet) A message sent to a blog on social networking platform Tumblr, which can be publicly posted and replied to by the recipient.

Give

To allot as a portion or share.

Ask

An eft; newt.

Give

To bestow (a name, for example).

Ask

A lizard.

Give

To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.

Ask

To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; - often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.
Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Give

To award as due
Gave us first prize.

Ask

To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask?
Ask me never so much dowry.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.

Give

To emit or utter
Gave a groan.
Gave a muted response.

Ask

To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
He asked the way to Chester.

Give

To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use
Give an opinion.
Give an excuse.

Ask

To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.

Give

To proffer to another
Gave the toddler my hand.

Ask

To publish in church for marriage; - said of both the banns and the persons.

Give

To perform for an audience
Give a recital.

Ask

To request or petition; - usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread.
Ask, and it shall be given you.

Give

To present to view
Gave the sign to begin.

Ask

To make inquiry, or seek by request; - sometimes followed by after.
Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name?

Give

To offer as entertainment
Give a dinner party.

Ask

A water newt.

Give

To propose as a toast.

Ask

Inquire about;
I asked about their special today
He had to ask directions several times

Give

To be a source of; afford
His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.

Ask

Make a request or demand for something to somebody;
She asked him for a loan

Give

To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition)
The draft gave me a cold.

Ask

Direct or put; seek an answer to;
Ask a question

Give

To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase
You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.

Ask

Consider obligatory; request and expect;
We require our secretary to be on time
Aren't we asking too much of these children?
I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons

Give

To yield or produce
Cows give milk.

Ask

Require or ask for as a price or condition;
He is asking $200 for the table
The kidnapers are asking a million dollars in return for the release of their hostage

Give

To bring forth or bear
Trees that give fruit.

Ask

Address a question to and expect an answer from;
Ask your teacher about trigonometry
The children asked me about their dead grandmother

Give

To produce as a result of calculation
5 × 12 gives 60.

Ask

Require as useful, just, or proper;
It takes nerve to do what she did
Success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent

Give

To manifest or show
Gives promise of brilliance.
Gave evidence of tampering.

Give

To carry out (a physical movement)
Give a wink.
Give a start.

Give

To permit one to have or take
Gave us an hour to finish.

Give

To take an interest to the extent of
"My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell).

Give

To make gifts or donations
Gives generously to charity.

Give

To yield to physical force
The sail gave during the storm.

Give

To collapse from force or pressure
The roof gave under the weight of the snow.

Give

To yield to change
Both sides will have to give on some issues.

Give

To afford access or a view; open
The doors give onto a terrace.

Give

(Slang) To be in progress; happen
What gives?.

Give

Capacity or inclination to yield under pressure.

Give

The quality or condition of resilience; springiness
"Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider).

Give

(ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.

Give

To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
I gave him my coat.
I gave my coat to the beggar.
When they asked, I gave my coat.

Give

To make a present or gift of.
I'm going to give my wife a necklace for her birthday.
She gave a pair of shoes to her husband for their anniversary.
He gives of his energies to the organization.

Give

To pledge.
I gave him my word that I'd protect his children.

Give

To provide (something) to (someone), to allow or afford.
I gave them permission to miss tomorrow's class.
Please give me some more time.

Give

To cause (a sensation or feeling) to exist in.
It gives me a lot of pleasure to be here tonight.
The fence gave me an electric shock.
My mother-in-law gives me nothing but grief.

Give

To carry out (a physical interaction) with (something).
I want to give you a kiss.
She gave him a hug.
I'd like to give the tire a kick.
I gave the boy a push on the swing.
She gave me a wink afterwards, so I knew she was joking.

Give

To pass (something) into (someone's hand, etc.).
Give me your hand.
On entering the house, he gave his coat to the doorman.

Give

To cause (a disease or condition) in, or to transmit (a disease or condition) to.
My boyfriend gave me chlamydia.
He was convinced that it was his alcoholism that gave him cancer.

Give

(transitive) To provide, as, a service or a broadcast.
They're giving my favorite show!

Give

(ditransitive) To estimate or predict (a duration or probability) for (something).
I give it ten minutes before he gives up.
I give it a 95% chance of success.
I'll give their marriage six months.

Give

(intransitive) To yield or collapse under pressure or force.
One pillar gave, then more, and suddenly the whole floor pancaked onto the floor below.

Give

(intransitive) To lead (onto or into).
The master bedroom gives onto a spacious balcony.

Give

To provide a view of.
His window gave the park.

Give

To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to yield.
The number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.

Give

To cause; to make; used with the infinitive.

Give

To cause (someone) to have; produce in (someone); effectuate.

Give

To allow or admit by way of supposition; to concede.
He can be bad-tempered, I'll give you that, but he's a hard worker.

Give

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.

Give

To communicate or announce (advice, tidings, etc.); to pronounce or utter (an opinion, a judgment, a shout, etc.).
The umpire finally gave his decision: the ball was out.

Give

To grant power, permission, destiny, etc. (especially to a person); to allot; to allow.

Give

(reflexive) To devote or apply (oneself).
The soldiers give themselves to plunder.
That boy is given to fits of bad temper.

Give

(obsolete) To become soft or moist.

Give

(obsolete) To shed tears; to weep.

Give

(obsolete) To have a misgiving.

Give

(slang) To be going on, to be occurring; what gives?
Your outfit is giving!

Give

The amount of bending that something undergoes when a force is applied to it; a tendency to yield under pressure; resilence.
This chair doesn't have much give.
There is no give in his dogmatic religious beliefs.

Give

To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as authority or permission; to yield up or allow.
For generous lords had rather give than pay.

Give

To yield possesion of; to deliver over, as property, in exchange for something; to pay; as, we give the value of what we buy.
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?

Give

To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and steel give sparks.

Give

To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment, a sentence, a shout, etc.

Give

To grant power or license to; to permit; to allow; to license; to commission.
It is given me once again to behold my friend.
Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine.

Give

To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to show; as, the number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.

Give

To devote; to apply; used reflexively, to devote or apply one's self; as, the soldiers give themselves to plunder; also in this sense used very frequently in the past participle; as, the people are given to luxury and pleasure; the youth is given to study.

Give

To set forth as a known quantity or a known relation, or as a premise from which to reason; - used principally in the passive form given.

Give

To allow or admit by way of supposition.
I give not heaven for lost.

Give

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.
I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover.

Give

To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give offense; to give pleasure or pain.

Give

To pledge; as, to give one's word.

Give

To cause; to make; - with the infinitive; as, to give one to understand, to know, etc.
But there the duke was given to understandThat in a gondola were seen togetherLorenzo and his amorous Jessica.

Give

To afford a view of; as, his window gave the park.
Whatsoever we employ in charitable uses during our lives, is given away from ourselves.
I fear our ears have given us the bag.
One that gives out himself Prince Florizel.
Give out you are of Epidamnum.
The Babylonians had given themselves over to all manner of vice.
He has . . . given upFor certain drops of salt, your city Rome.
I'll not state themBy giving up their characters.

Give

To give a gift or gifts.

Give

To yield to force or pressure; to relax; to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.

Give

To become soft or moist.

Give

To move; to recede.
Now back he gives, then rushes on amain.

Give

To shed tears; to weep.
Whose eyes do never giveBut through lust and laughter.

Give

To have a misgiving.
My mind gives ye're reservedTo rob poor market women.

Give

To open; to lead.
This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk.
They gave back and came no farther.
The Scots battalion was enforced to give in.
This consideration may induce a translator to give in to those general phrases.
Rooms which gave upon a pillared porch.
The gloomy staircase on which the grating gave.
It would be well for all authors, if they knew when to give over, and to desist from any further pursuits after fame.

Give

The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

Give

Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense;
She gave him a black eye
The draft gave me a cold

Give

Be the cause or source of;
He gave me a lot of trouble
Our meeting afforded much interesting information

Give

Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody;
I gave her my money
Can you give me lessons?
She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care

Give

Convey or reveal information;
Give one's name

Give

Convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow;
Don't pay him any mind
Give the orders
Give him my best regards
Pay attention

Give

Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course

Give

Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture;
Throw a glance
She gave me a dirty look

Give

Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?

Give

Bring about;
His two singles gave the team the victory

Give

Dedicate;
Give thought to
Give priority to
Pay attention to

Give

Give or supply;
The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
The estate renders some revenue for the family

Give

Tell or deposit (information) knowledge;
Give a secret to the Russians
Leave your name and address here

Give

Bring about;
The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth

Give

Leave with; give temporarily;
Can I give you my keys while I go in the pool?
Can I give you the children for the weekend?

Give

Emit or utter;
Give a gulp
Give a yelp

Give

Endure the loss of;
He gave his life for his children
I gave two sons to the war

Give

Place into the hands or custody of;
Hand me the spoon, please
Turn the files over to me, please
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers

Give

Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;
She committed herself to the work of God
Give one's talents to a good cause
Consecrate your life to the church

Give

Give (as medicine);
I gave him the drug

Give

Give or convey physically;
She gave him First Aid
I gave him a punch in the nose

Give

Bestow;
Give hommage
Render thanks

Give

Bestow, especially officially;
Grant a degree
Give a divorce
This bill grants us new rights

Give

Move in order to make room for someone for something;
The park gave way to a supermarket
`Move over,' he told the crowd

Give

Give food to;
Feed the starving children in India
Don't give the child this tough meat

Give

Contribute to some cause;
I gave at the office

Give

Break down, literally or metaphorically;
The wall collapsed
The business collapsed
The dam broke
The roof collapsed
The wall gave in
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice

Give

Estimate the duration or outcome of something;
He gave the patient three months to live
I gave him a very good chance at success

Give

Execute and deliver;
Give bond

Give

Deliver in exchange or recompense;
I'll give you three books for four CDs

Give

Afford access to;
The door opens to the patio
The French doors give onto a terrace

Give

Present to view;
He gave the sign to start

Give

Perform for an audience;
Pollini is giving another concert in New York

Give

Be flexible under stress of physical force;
This material doesn't give

Give

Propose;
He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party

Give

Legal use: accord by verdict;
Give a decision for the plaintiff

Give

Manifest or show;
This student gives promise of real creativity
The office gave evidence of tampering

Give

Offer in good faith;
He gave her his word

Give

Submit for consideration, judgment, or use;
Give one's opinion
Give an excuse

Give

Guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion;
You gave me to think that you agreed with me

Give

Allow to have or take;
I give you two minutes to respond

Give

Inflict as a punishment;
She gave the boy a good spanking
The judge gave me 10 years

Give

Occur;
What gives?

Give

Proffer (a body part);
She gave her hand to her little sister

Common Curiosities

How does asking benefit communication?

Asking stimulates dialogue and can deepen understanding or strengthen relationships through interactive exchanges.

What are the social benefits of asking questions?

Asking questions can increase knowledge, foster inclusivity, and promote a culture of learning and openness.

Does giving require wealth?

Giving does not necessarily require wealth; people can give time, effort, or skills, not just material items.

What impact does giving have on the giver?

Giving can enhance the giver's sense of satisfaction, happiness, and social connection.

What does it mean to ask someone?

To ask someone means to request information, help, or permission, often reflecting a need or curiosity.

Can asking be seen as imposing?

Depending on the context and frequency, asking can sometimes be perceived as imposing if it places undue pressure on the other party.

Is giving always voluntary?

Giving is generally voluntary, but sometimes it can be motivated by social expectations or obligations.

What are examples of giving in a community context?

Examples include donating to local charities, volunteering at shelters, or organizing community clean-up events.

How can teachers encourage students to ask questions?

Teachers can encourage students by creating a supportive environment that values curiosity and acknowledges all questions as valuable.

Can giving be harmful?

If not thought through, giving can sometimes lead to dependency or reduce the recipient’s initiative to solve problems independently.

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Commonwealth vs. State

Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms