Meaning trap
call on
ask someone to speak or act
To ask someone to answer a question, give an opinion, or do something, especially in a formal or group setting.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To ask someone to answer a question, give an opinion, or do something, especially in a formal or group setting.
Another meaning of 'call on' is 'visit briefly'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- 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
Fix the pattern
Pattern: call on + someone (to do something)
WrongThe chair called on to the next speaker.
RightThe chair called on the next speaker.
'Call on someone' — no 'to' before the person.
Patterncall on + someone (to do something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Call on someone' is the natural verb for picking someone to speak; the paraphrase is heavy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
call on someone (to)mestudentsto answerto 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.