WelcomeCourses

English

AskQuestions

Verb: Call: to name or contact

File:Fairphone Keep Calling (50300975796).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

File:Fairphone Keep Calling (50300975796).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org
phone calls | Brave New Films | Flickr

phone calls | Brave New Films | Flickr

www.flickr.com
Phone: "Old-Fashioned" Dialing | Steve Jobs tries to call th… | Flickr

Phone: "Old-Fashioned" Dialing | Steve Jobs tries to call th… | Flickr

www.flickr.com
Entrepreneur calling on phone working at office - Credit t… | Flickr

Entrepreneur calling on phone working at office - Credit t… | Flickr

www.flickr.com
Serious Business -- Phone Call | Making a phone call. As a r… | Flickr

Serious Business -- Phone Call | Making a phone call. As a r… | Flickr

www.flickr.com
File:Sony-Xperia-XZ1-Compact Android-9 Phone-Info-IMS-Status-VoLTE ...

File:Sony-Xperia-XZ1-Compact Android-9 Phone-Info-IMS-Status-VoLTE ...

commons.wikimedia.org
File:Conferencecallphone.jpg - Wikipedia

File:Conferencecallphone.jpg - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org
This is how a president makes a phone call. #obama #phone | Flickr

This is how a president makes a phone call. #obama #phone | Flickr

www.flickr.com
File:Phone communication icon.png - Wikimedia Commons

File:Phone communication icon.png - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org
File:Day 70 - Destiny Calling (4433773988).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

File:Day 70 - Destiny Calling (4433773988).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org
Call is a versatile verb that can mean either to name someone or something, or to contact someone, often by phone.
  • "Call" as naming: to give a specific name or title to a person, group, or thing.
  • "Call" as contacting: to reach out to someone, usually by telephone, but can include other forms of communication.
  • Common forms: call, calls, calling, called.

Meanings & Uses

  1. Naming (to name):
    1. When you "call" someone something, you give them a name or label.
    2. Example: "They call him Jack."
    3. Example: "This season is called winter."
  2. Contacting (to phone or reach out):
    1. To "call" someone means to contact them, primarily by phone.
    2. Example: "I will call you tonight."
    3. Can be used for both making and receiving calls.
    4. Example: "She called me yesterday."
  3. Other uses:
    1. Summoning: "The teacher called the students to her desk."
    2. Inviting: "They're calling everyone to the meeting."
'Call' primarily means to name someone/something or to contact someone.
Call can be used to name, phone, summon, or invite someone.

Forms & Grammar

  • Base form: call
  • Third person singular: calls
  • Present participle/gerund: calling
  • Past simple/past participle: called
SubjectPresentPastExample (Contact)Example (Name)
I/You/We/TheycallcalledI call my mom every Sunday.They call that color blue.
He/She/ItcallscalledShe calls the office daily.He calls it a problem.
... (continuous)callingWe are calling for help.They are calling the project X.
  • Can be used as simple verb, or with -ing for ongoing actions, and -ed for past actions.
  • Works for both naming and contacting in all tenses.
Correct forms are call, calls, calling, called.

Examples in Sentences

Naming:
  • People often call him Tom.
  • We call this game 'chess.'
  • Some call it art; others call it junk.
Contacting:
  • I'll call you tomorrow.
  • Did she call you last night?
  • Please call the doctor if you feel sick.
Other:
  • The judge called the court to order.
  • They're calling for volunteers at the event.
'They call her Sarah' uses 'call' for naming.
'I'll call you later' and 'She called me yesterday' use 'call' for contacting.

Conclusion

"Call" is a dynamic verb meaning to name or to contact, with usage in naming, phoning, summoning, and inviting contexts.
  • Two main meanings: to name, to contact
  • Flexible: used for naming, phoning, summoning, and inviting
  • Important forms: call, calls, calling, called