高上　英語　似た表現比較　⑫　I asked a question of her.と I asked a question about her.

みなさんこんばんは。今日も再び似た表現比較を。askの使い方に関して言ってみれば、実は多岐にわたっており、今回はその1つです。前者の表現を知らない人もいるかもしれませんが、正式な英語表現となっています。以下CHATGPTに今回のことを聞いてみました。

I cannot differentiate the meaning of I asked a question of her, and I asked a question about her .ChatGPT

Certainly! The phrases “I asked a question of her” and “I asked a question about her” have distinct meanings, and I’ll break them down for you.

1. I asked a question of her.
   • This means you posed a question directly to her. You wanted her to provide an answer or give you some information. The subject of the question could be about any topic, but you are directing the question to her.
   • Example: You see a woman who is an expert on climate change. You approach her and ask, “What do you think about the recent climate initiatives?” In this case, you “asked a question of her.”
2. I asked a question about her.
   • This means the question you posed was specifically related to her, but you might not be asking her directly. Instead, you could be asking someone else.
   • Example: You are speaking to a friend about a woman you both know. You ask, “Do you know if she’s moving to New York?” Here, you “asked a question about her.”

In summary:

• “Of her” means she is the one you’re asking.
• “About her” means she is the subject of the question.

I hope this clarifies the distinction between the two phrases for you!

代表から

question of herの場合、彼女についての質問ではなく、彼女に対しての質問となるわけです。一方about herの場合、彼女についての質問ですが、彼女に直接聞いたのかどうかは分かりません。

それでは以下のようにするとどうでしょうか？　

I asked a question about her of her. Is this correct?

Your sentence “I asked a question about her of her.” is technically grammatically correct, but it’s a bit awkward and could be confusing to readers or listeners.

A clearer way to phrase this would be:

1. “I asked her a question about herself.”
2. “I asked her about herself.”

Both of these alternatives convey the idea that you asked a person (her) a question pertaining to that same person (herself).

I asked a question of her about her. how about this?

“I asked a question of her about her.” is also grammatically correct, and it’s clearer than the initial sentence you provided. It conveys the idea that you asked her a question that pertains to her. This construction is more formal and might be found in literary or elevated contexts, but it’s understandable.

Certainly! A more straightforward way to phrase it would be:

“I asked her a question about herself.”

This construction is clear and concise, and it conveys the intended meaning.

やはり文法的に正しそうでも、ぎこちない表現は通じないようですね。

askについては今後も掘り下げていくつもりです。