Skip to content
fluentbyear

ITALIAN VERB

chiedere

to ask (for something)

  • #22 most used
  • Irregular -ere verb
  • Past participle: chiesto
  • Gerund: chiedendo

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. io I ask
  2. tu you ask
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she asks
  4. noi we ask
  5. voi you all ask
  6. loro they ask

Past

Passato prossimo · finished actions: “ho parlato”

  1. io I asked
  2. tu you asked
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she asked
  4. noi we asked
  5. voi you all asked
  6. loro they asked

Imperfect

Imperfetto · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. io I used to ask
  2. tu you used to ask
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she used to ask
  4. noi we used to ask
  5. voi you all used to ask
  6. loro they used to ask

Future

Futuro semplice · plans and guesses

  1. io I will ask
  2. tu you will ask
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she will ask
  4. noi we will ask
  5. voi you all will ask
  6. loro they will ask

Conditional

Condizionale · “would”, polite requests

  1. io I would ask
  2. tu you would ask
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she would ask
  4. noi we would ask
  5. voi you all would ask
  6. loro they would ask

Present subjunctive

Congiuntivo presente · wishes, doubts, “che …”

  1. io (that) I ask
  2. tu (that) you ask
  3. lui, lei, Lei (that) he/she ask
  4. noi (that) we ask
  5. voi (that) you all ask
  6. loro (that) they ask

Imperative

Imperativo · requests and orders: tu, Lei, noi, voi

  1. tu ask!
  2. Lei ask! (formal)
  3. noi ask! (let’s)
  4. voi ask! (all of you)

How to use chiedere

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Chiedo il conto, è tardi.

    I'll ask for the bill, it's late.

  2. Past

    Gli ho chiesto un consiglio e mi ha aiutata.

    I asked him for advice and he helped me.

  3. Imperfect

    Mi chiedeva sempre come stavano i miei.

    He always asked me how my parents were.

  4. Future

    Chiederò informazioni alla stazione, tranquilla.

    I'll ask for information at the station, don't worry.

  5. Conditional

    Ti chiederei un favore, se hai un minuto.

    I'd ask you a favour, if you have a minute.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Non voglio che chiediate soldi ai nonni.

    I don't want you to ask your grandparents for money.

  7. Imperative

    Chiedi scusa a tua sorella, dai.

    Say sorry to your sister, come on.

Good to know

  • Chiedere is to ask a question or to ask for something: chiedo il conto. Domandare only asks a question.
  • Chiedere a: chiedi a tua madre.

Where you hear chiedere

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Italian · Beginner Level 2

  • Chiedo a Pietro. I'll ask Pietro.
  • Ho chiesto a Nonna. I asked Nonna.
  • Chiederò domani. I will ask tomorrow.

Italian · Beginner Level 3

  • Chiedo a Pietro. I'll ask Pietro.
  • Ho chiesto a Nonna. I asked Nonna.
  • Chiederò domani. I will ask tomorrow.
27
The Hole in the Roof

Beginner Level 2 · Duemila! Chiederò a Nonna. · Chiederò domani.

Needs a subscription 17
Residence Papers

Beginner Level 3 · Vorrei chiedere la residenza.

Needs a subscription 5
Chiara Arrives

Intermediate Level 2 · Domenica! E... ha chiesto di me?

Needs a subscription 9
Nonna's Opinion

Intermediate Level 2 · Al posto tuo, chiederei aiuto.

Needs a subscription 19
Pietro's Question

Intermediate Level 2 · Pietro... me lo chiedi davvero?

Needs a subscription 22
Nunzia's Secret

Intermediate Level 2 · Va bene. E se Donato chiede?

Needs a subscription 27
Saying No to Donato

Intermediate Level 2 · Posso chiedere perché?

Needs a subscription 4
Giulia Asks

Intermediate Level 3 · Forse nessuno glielo chiedeva. · Domani le chiedo della nave.

Needs a subscription 29
Nonna's Wish

Intermediate Level 3 · Laura, devo chiederti una cosa.

Needs a subscription 22
The Public Meeting

Advanced Level 2 · Chiedo la parola.

Needs a subscription 23
Laura's Speech

Advanced Level 2 · Non chiediamo soldi.

Needs a subscription 2
Giulia Prepares Her

Fluency Level 1 · Va bene. Chiedimi qualcosa.

Free

And 6 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -ere verb.