Two verbs for "to ask"

Pedir vs. Preguntar

peh-DEER / preh-goon-TAR — To ask for (something) / to ask (a question)

"Le voy a pedir un favor, y de paso le pregunto qué hora es."
I'm going to ask him for a favor, and while I'm at it ask him what time it is.

"Pedir" is for requesting something; "preguntar" is for asking a question. English uses "ask" for both, so this distinction has to be learned on purpose rather than picked up automatically.

"Another one of those distinctions I explain almost every week — always worth the reminder."— Graciela