missconduct wrote:To "ask" a question is redundant. To ask, would be sufficient.
No it isn't. Asking needs qualification. If I give a speech or presentation, I might say first, "You can ask questions at the end". I wouldn't just say, "You can ask at the end."
Teacher: Why did you put your hand up, Johnny?
Johnny: I wanted to ask a question/I wanted to ask to be excused/ask for an explanation/ask for some water/ask you something/ask for a pencil/ask for an eraser
He would not just say, "I wanted to ask".
pose question: to ask a question, often one that requires some consideration