to ask
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to ask
To ask an additional question in order to get more information, confirmation, or clarification about a topic.
Ich habe den letzten Punkt nicht ganz verstanden, darf ich da kurz nachfragen?
I didn't quite understand the last point; may I briefly ask about that?
'Nachfragen' (to ask / inquire) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nach-' comes at the end in a main clause. The prefix reinforces the idea of 'following up' on information or 'adding' a question afterward.
Wenn etwas unklar ist, fragen Sie einfach nach.
If something is unclear, simply ask.
'Nachfragen' (to ask / inquire) is often combined with prepositions. With 'bei jemandem' (with someone; dative), you express where or whom you ask, and with 'nach etwas' (about/for something; dative), what the topic of the question is.
Ich werde morgen bei der Personalabteilung nach dem Stand meiner Bewerbung nachfragen.
I will ask the HR department tomorrow about the status of my application.
In conversations or presentations, 'nachfragen' (to ask) is often used to politely ask for clarification. It is frequently combined with adverbs such as 'kurz' (briefly), 'nochmal' (again), or 'direkt' (directly).
Entschuldigung, ich muss da nochmal kurz nachfragen, um sicherzugehen, dass ich es richtig verstanden habe.
Excuse me, I need to briefly ask about that again to make sure I understood it correctly.
to ask
'fragen' and 'nachfragen' both mean that you want to get information. 'fragen' is general and can be the first question in a conversation. 'nachfragen' is used more when something has already been said and you want to know it more precisely, check it, or confirm it. It can also mean asking whether something is available. Learners confuse the words because both have to do with asking questions. As a guide: first you ask; if something remains unclear, you ask again or ask for clarification.
Ich rufe noch einmal an, weil ich wegen des Termins nachfragen möchte.
I'll call again because I want to ask about the appointment.
Vor der Reise fragen wir im Büro nach den genauen Abfahrtszeiten.
Before the trip, we ask at the office about the exact departure times.