Можно спросить, сколько стоит билет?

May I ask how much the ticket costs?

Breakdown of Можно спросить, сколько стоит билет?

• билет: the ticket
• можно: can
• сколько: how much
• стоить: to cost
• спросить: to ask

Questions & Answers about Можно спросить, сколько стоит билет?

Why is спросить in the infinitive and why is there no explicit subject?

We’re using the impersonal permission/possibility construction Можно + infinitive. In this pattern the action isn’t tied to a named subject; it simply asks “Is it allowed/possible to ask…?” That’s why спросить remains in the infinitive and no “I” or “you” appears.

What does Можно mean here?

Literally, Можно means it is allowed/possible. In questions like this it functions as May I… or Can one…, making it a polite way to check permission or feasibility.

Why is there a comma before сколько?

Because сколько стоит билет is a subordinate (embedded) question. Russian punctuation rules require a comma to separate the main clause (Можно спросить) from the subordinate clause introduced by сколько.

Why does the embedded question сколько стоит билет keep the same word order as the direct question?

In Russian, indirect (embedded) questions mirror the word order of direct questions. Since the direct form is Сколько стоит билет? (question word + verb + subject), the embedded form also stays сколько стоит билет.

Why is билет in the nominative case?

The verb стоить (“to cost”) takes its subject in the nominative case. Here билет is the grammatical subject of стоит, so it remains in the nominative.

What’s the difference between Можно спросить and Можно я спрошу?

• Можно спросить uses the impersonal infinitive structure — можно
  • infinitive — and sounds neutral/general.
• Можно я спрошу uses a personal pronoun (я) and a conjugated verb (спрошу) and functions like May I ask. It’s also correct but feels slightly more personal.

Can I replace спросить with узнать, and if so, why would I?

Yes. You can say Можно узнать, сколько стоит билет?

• спросить focuses on the act of asking someone directly.
• узнать (“find out/learn”) emphasizes obtaining the information, often in a more formal tone.

How do I specify whom I’m asking?

Insert у … after спросить. For example:
Можно спросить у вас, сколько стоит билет?
This clarifies that you’re asking you (formal or plural).

How can I make this request more polite or formal?

Common polite alternatives include:

• Не могли бы вы сказать, сколько стоит билет? (Could you tell me how much the ticket costs?)
• Извините, не подскажете, сколько стоит билет? (Excuse me, could you please indicate how much the ticket costs?)

Can you omit Можно and just say Спросить, сколько стоит билет? Why or why not?

Without Можно the phrase becomes a bare infinitive clause (“to ask how much the ticket costs”) and loses the sense of asking permission. To request permission or politely introduce a question, you normally need Можно or a similar modal (“Могу я…” or “Не могли бы вы…?”).