A2 · Word pairs
Pedir o preguntar
Two verbs where English has one, and the split is clean: if you want an answer, preguntar. If you want an object, a favour or an action, pedir. The mistake is almost always in the same direction, because to ask feels like a single idea.
Pedir
- Ask for a thing: pedir la cuenta
- Ask someone to do something: pedir que + subjuntivo
- Order in a restaurant: pedir un café
- Ask a favour: pedir un favor
Preguntar
- Ask a question: preguntar la hora
- Ask whether: preguntar si
- Ask about someone: preguntar por alguien
- Never followed by an object you want
Two sentences that look the same
- Le pedí ayuda.I asked him for help. · I want the help
- Le pregunté si podía ayudar.I asked him whether he could help. · I want an answer
Pedir que takes the subjunctive
When you ask someone to do something, the second verb goes into the subjunctive, and a past request pulls it into the imperfect subjunctive.
| Main clause | Second verb |
|---|---|
| pido que | escuches — present subjunctive |
| pedí que | escucharas — imperfect subjunctive |
- Te pido que me escuches.I am asking you to listen to me.
- Me pidió que pasara el jueves.He asked me to come by on Thursday.
Preguntar por
Preguntar por someone means to ask after them, not to ask them a question. It is what you say when you send greetings back.
- Preguntó por ti.He asked after you.
- Pregunté por el gerente.I asked for the manager. · asking to speak to him
Mistakes to avoid
Le pregunté un favor.
Le pedí un favor.
A favour is a thing you want, so pedir.
Me pidió dónde vivía.
Me preguntó dónde vivía.
He wanted information.
Me pidió que paso el jueves.
Me pidió que pasara el jueves.
Pedir que takes the subjunctive.
Try it
Le ___ la hora a un señor.
En el restaurante ___ un café.
Me pidió que le ___ la verdad.
Tu mamá ___ por ti.