Understanding ‘Ask after’ and Its Importance in IELTS

The phrasal verb ‘ask after’ is a valuable linguistic tool that can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS exam. This guide will explore its various uses, provide practical examples, and offer strategies to incorporate it effectively in your IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks.

Definition and Explanation

‘Ask after’ is a phrasal verb that means to inquire about someone’s health or well-being, especially when that person is not present. It’s a polite way of showing interest in someone’s welfare.

Synonyms: inquire about, check on, seek information about

Usage in Context

• “I met your mother yesterday. She asked after you and your family.”
• “It’s thoughtful of you to ask after my grandmother. She’s doing much better now.”
• “In professional settings, it’s common to ask after a colleague’s family during casual conversations.”

Asking after someone in a polite conversation

Grammar Analysis

‘Ask after’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the object always comes after both parts of the verb.

Correct: “He asked after his old friend.”
Incorrect: “He asked his old friend after.”

Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking

‘Ask after’ can be effectively used in various parts of the IELTS Speaking test, particularly when discussing relationships, social interactions, or cultural norms.

Example response for “Describe a person you admire”:
“I greatly admire my grandfather. Whenever I visit him, he always asks after my studies and career plans. His genuine interest in my life inspires me to stay connected with my family members.”

In IELTS Writing

While ‘ask after’ is more commonly used in spoken English, it can add a natural, conversational tone to certain types of IELTS Writing tasks, particularly in Task 2 when discussing social behaviors or communication styles.

Example sentence in an essay about maintaining relationships:
“In many cultures, it’s considered polite to ask after family members, which helps strengthen social bonds and shows genuine care for others’ well-being.”

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Look after (take care of): “Could you look after my dog while I’m away?”
2. Check on (verify the condition or status): “I’ll check on the progress of your application next week.”
3. Keep in touch with (maintain contact): “It’s important to keep in touch with old friends.”
4. Catch up with (update oneself about someone’s news): “Let’s meet for coffee and catch up with each other’s lives.”
5. Follow up on (pursue further action): “I’ll follow up on your request as soon as possible.”

Related phrasal verbs for social communication

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. After the conference, I ___ my colleague who couldn’t attend due to illness.
2. It’s polite to ___ your host’s family when you’re invited to their home.
3. The manager always ___ our team members’ well-being during meetings.
4. I haven’t seen Sarah in years, but her mother often ___ me when we meet.
5. As a good neighbor, you should ___ elderly residents during harsh weather.
6. The doctor ___ the patient’s recovery progress regularly.
7. It’s thoughtful to ___ your friends’ parents when you visit their homes.
8. Our company culture encourages employees to ___ each other’s personal lives.
9. When traveling abroad, it’s courteous to ___ your host country’s customs.
10. The teacher ___ absent students to ensure they’re caught up with coursework.

Sentence Rewriting

1. Original: “How is your sister doing?”
   Rewrite: Could you ___ your sister for me?

2. Original: “I want to know about John’s health.”
   Rewrite: I’d like to ___ John’s health.

3. Original: “Please inquire about the status of my application.”
   Rewrite: Could you please ___ my application status?

4. Original: “She always shows interest in her employees’ families.”
   Rewrite: She always ___ her employees’ families.

5. Original: “It’s important to check on elderly neighbors during heatwaves.”
   Rewrite: It’s important to ___ elderly neighbors during heatwaves.

6. Original: “The manager regularly inquires about team members’ well-being.”
   Rewrite: The manager regularly ___ team members’ well-being.

7. Original: “I’m calling to see how your new project is progressing.”
   Rewrite: I’m calling to ___ your new project.

8. Original: “Please find out how Mr. Johnson is recovering from his surgery.”
   Rewrite: Please ___ Mr. Johnson’s recovery from surgery.

9. Original: “It’s polite to show interest in your host’s family when visiting.”
   Rewrite: It’s polite to ___ your host’s family when visiting.

10. Original: “The company regularly checks on the welfare of its remote employees.”
    Rewrite: The company regularly ___ its remote employees.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. asked after 2. ask after 3. asks after 4. asks after 5. ask after
2. asked after 7. ask after 8. ask after 9. ask after 10. asks after

Sentence Rewriting:

1. ask after 2. ask after 3. ask after 4. asks after 5. ask after
2. asks after 7. ask after 8. ask after 9. ask after 10. asks after

Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘ask after’ is used to inquire about someone’s well-being or the status of something. The phrasal verb remains inseparable, and its form changes based on the subject and tense of the sentence.

Memory Tips

To remember ‘ask after’, visualize yourself reaching out (asking) towards someone who is walking away (after). This image reinforces the idea of inquiring about someone who isn’t present.

Another helpful mnemonic: “A friend Asks After Friends’ Affairs” – The first letters spell out AAFA, reminding you of the phrasal verb and its meaning.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb (e.g., “He asked his friend after.”)
   Correction: Always keep ‘ask’ and ‘after’ together, followed by the object.

2. Mistake: Using ‘for’ instead of ‘after’ (e.g., “She asked for her colleague’s health.”)
   Correction: Remember it’s specifically ‘ask after’ when inquiring about someone’s well-being.

3. Mistake: Overusing in formal writing
   Correction: While suitable for Speaking tasks and informal writing, use more formal alternatives in academic Writing tasks.

4. Mistake: Confusing with ‘ask for’
   Correction: ‘Ask for’ means to request something, while ‘ask after’ is about inquiring about someone’s welfare.

Conclusion

Mastering ‘ask after’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, particularly in Speaking tasks. It demonstrates a nuanced understanding of English and shows cultural awareness of polite social interactions. Practice using this phrasal verb in various contexts to internalize its usage and boost your confidence in the exam. Remember, natural and appropriate use of phrasal verbs like ‘ask after’ can help you achieve a higher band score in IELTS, reflecting a more native-like command of English.