ask questions to somebody?

[English4everyone]

Yesterday my teacher said "ask follow-up questions to each other." I asked him about the preposition "to" and he just said "it's correct and it must be like this." I want to know if it is better to say "ask each other follow-up questions." Or if we want to use a preposition, isn't it better to use "of" or "from"?

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,


Don't tell your teacher. But you are right. "To" is not the correct preposition.

1." Ask each other [actually "one another" for three or more persons] follow-up questions."

2. "Ask follow-up questions of one another."

3. If you wish to speak "perfect" English, you should say something like:

"Excuse me. May I please ask a question of you?"

Most people, however, simply say "Can I ask you a question?"


James


P.S. If a thoughtless neighbor is playing music too loudly, you might say "Excuse me. May I ask a big favor of you?

I really need my sleep. Is there a chance of turning down the volume?"

 

[emsr2d2]

I really don't see why a student shouldn't question what they are told by a teacher. It's perfectly feasible for a student to show their teacher this forum to back up their rightfully held doubts.

I will happily add my comments to this:

"Ask questions to each other" is not natural/correct.

Ask each other questions.
Ask questions of each other.
Exchange questions.

Don't use "from" though, as you suggested in your first post.