call on — ask someone to speak or act
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To ask someone to answer a question, give an opinion, or do something, especially in a formal or group setting.
Say it like a native
Textbook The teacher requested that I provide an answer in front of the class.
Native The teacher called on me to answer.
'Call on someone' is the natural verb for picking someone to speak; the paraphrase is heavy.
Pattern: call on + someone (to do something)
In use
- The teacher called on Maria to answer the question.study
- In my classes, the teacher often calls on students to share their opinions, which helps everyone stay focused.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The chair called on to the next speaker.
✓ The chair called on the next speaker.
'Call on someone' — no 'to' before the person.
Common collocations
call on someone (to)— me, students, to answer, to speak
Don't confuse it
'Call on' here is about asking someone to participate, not visiting them.
Related
- call on (visit briefly) — Another meaning of 'call on' is 'visit briefly'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.