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What is the capital of Tunisia?

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What is the capital of Tunisia?

Is it « demander **quelqu’un** à quelque chose » or « demander quelque chose à **quelqu’un** » ?

If Google were correct it would be "demander à qn qqc" and not "demander qn à qqc.

The question is then to know whether on top of "demander qqc à qn" you can also say "demander à qn qqc". The answer is that both are right, depending on the COD (complément d’object direct).

1/ If the COD is short the first form is used in most cases. How short is difficult to evaluate; it can be somewhat long but not too much.

  • J’ai demandé un café à Anne.
  • La police a demandé ses papiers à Jean.

2/ If the COD is rather long then the second form is used.

  • Il a demandé à Aline un des album photo qu’elle ne prête à personne.
    (Compare "Il a demandé un de ses albums photo à Aline.")
  • Il a demandé à Aline un de ses albums photo du temps de ses années d’école en pensionnat.
    (Wouldn’t do: Il a demandé un de ses albums photo du temps de ses années d’école en pensionnat à Aline)

3/ When the COD is a clause (short or long), then the second form is the only one usable.

  • Ils ont demandé au maitre d’école qu’il leur donne moins de devoirs.
  • L’administration demande aux élèves qu’ils portent des masques.

4/ Here are two exceptions.

a) You want to make clear what has been asked to someone who is inquiring about it just after you said what was asked or you want to insist upon the fact.

  • Il a demandé à Anne un café, oui, un café.

b) In an enumeration in which you want to emphasize the list of people being asked you might use the second possibility when the COD is short.

  • Il a demandé à Anne un café, à Pierre une cigarette et à Jean de lui faire son devoir de latin.

Your example

  • Je demande son nom au garçon.

 

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What is the capital of Tunisia?