попросить

Russian

Etymology

по- (po-) +‎ проси́ть (prosítʹ).

Pronunciation

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Verb

попроси́ть • (poprosítʹ) pf (imperfective проси́ть)

1. to ask for, to request (see usage notes)

   Оте́ц попроси́л у до́чери проще́ния. ― Otéc poprosíl u dóčeri proščénija. ― The father asked his daughter for forgiveness.

   Я хоте́л попроси́ть у тебя́ ча́шку са́хара. ― Ja xotél poprosítʹ u tebjá čášku sáxara. ― I wanted to ask you for a cup of sugar.

   Я хочу́ попроси́ть тебя́ об услу́ге. ― Ja xočú poprosítʹ tebjá ob uslúge. ― I want to ask you for a favour.

   Бою́сь, я до́лжен попроси́ть вас уйти́. ― Bojúsʹ, ja dólžen poprosítʹ vas ujtí. ― I'm afraid I must ask you to leave.

Usage notes

The direct object (the person being asked) can be constructed as "у (u) + person in genitive case" or "person in accusative case", and the indirect object (the thing being asked for), if a noun, can be constructed as "noun in genitive case", "noun in accusative case" or "о (o) + noun in prepositional case".

When "у (u) + person in genitive case" is used, the indirect object (the thing being asked for) is more often a noun in genitive case or accusative case, whereas when "person in accusative case" is used, the indirect object (the thing being asked for) is more often a verb or a noun in prepositional case preceded by "о (o)".

Conjugation