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Verb to call in English
12.02.2024
3 minutes to read

The verb to call in English: 3 forms

"The word 'to call' in English has multiple meanings and is used in a variety of contexts. From denoting the action of making a phone call to expressing one's opinion or even giving a name, its usage is varied and captures a wide range of meanings. Let's delve into the world of this multifunctional verb and explore its various uses."

Table of contents

The verb "to call" has several meanings in English, depending on the context in which it is used. Here are some of the main meanings:
  1. To call by phone: This is one of the most common meanings. For example: "I will call you later." (I will call you later.)
  2. To name, name: It means to give a name to something or someone. For example: "They call their dog Max." (They call their dog Max.)
  3. Invite: This can refer to inviting someone to an event or meeting. For example: "They called him to the meeting." (They invited him to the meeting.)
  4. Consider, believe: Used to express an opinion about something or someone. For example: "Many people call him a genius." (Many people call him a genius.)
  5. Predict: It can mean to predict a future event. For example: "They called for rain tomorrow." (They called for rain tomorrow.)
  6. Call: In the context of sports or military terminology, it can mean a call to play or fight. For example: "The coach called the team onto the field." (The coach called the team onto the field.)
These are just a few examples of how the verb "to call" is used. Its meaning can vary depending on the context, so it is always a good idea to consider the context of the sentence in order to interpret its meaning correctly.

Meaning of the verb to call

In English, the verb "to call" has three basic forms: Present Simple, Past Simple, and Past Participle. Depending on the time and context, these forms change to convey the desired meaning.

3 basic forms of the verb to call

Using the three basic forms of the verb "to call" can convey different meanings and actions in English. Understanding these forms will help you better interpret and use the verb "to call" in different situations.
The verb "to call" is used in a variety of contexts and situations. Here are some of the main occasions when it is often used:
  1. To call: The verb "to call" is often used when someone is talking on the phone. For example: "I will call you tonight." (I will call you tonight.)
  2. Naming or naming: This usage involves giving a name to something or someone. For example: "They call her the queen of pop." (They call her the queen of pop.)
  3. Invite: The verb "to call" is also used to invite someone to an event or meeting. For example: "We called our friends to the party." (We invited our friends to the party.)
  4. Prediction: It means to make an assumption about a future event. For example: "They called for heavy snowfall tomorrow." (They called for heavy snowfall tomorrow.)
  5. Order or command: In some cases, "to call" is used to issue an order or command. For example: "The coach called the team to start the game." (The coach called the team to start the game.)
The verb "to call" is multifunctional and can be used in different contexts to express different actions and ideas.

When the verb call is used

The verb "to call" has several grammatical features in English:
Verb forms: Like most verbs in English, "to call" has several forms depending on tense, person, and number. For example:
  • Present Simple: call / calls
  • Past Simple: called
  • Present Participle: calling
  • Past Participle: called
Question and Negation Forms: The auxiliary verbs "do" (for Present Simple) or "did" (for Past Simple) combined with "not" or "n't" are used to form questions and negations. For example:
  • Present Simple: Do you call him every day?
  • Past Simple: Did he call you yesterday?
Use in different tenses: The verb "to call" can be used in different tenses depending on the time of action. For example:
  • Present Simple: She calls her friend every morning.
  • Past Simple: He called his parents last night.
  • Present Perfect: They have called the doctor.
  • Future Simple: I will call you later.
Returning and passive constructions: The verb "to call" can be used in both reciprocal and passive constructions depending on the context. For example:
  • Reflexive: She calls herself a perfectionist.
  • Passive: The meeting was called off due to bad weather.
These grammatical features help manage the use of the verb "to call" in different contexts and tenses, ensuring that the utterance is clear and properly understood.

Grammatical features

  • Present Simple:
She calls her grandmother every Sunday. - She calls her grandmother every Sunday.
The teacher calls the roll at the beginning of each class. - The teacher calls the roll at the beginning of each class.
He never calls me back when I leave a message. - He never calls me back when I leave a message.
  • Past Simple:
I called him this morning, but he didn't answer. - I called him this morning but he didn't answer.
They called a meeting last week to discuss the new project. - They called a meeting last week to discuss the new project.
She called her sister as soon as she heard the news. - She called her sister as soon as she heard the news.
  • Present Perfect:
Have you called the plumber about the leaky faucet? - Did you call the plumber about the leaky faucet?
They have called off the event due to unforeseen circumstances. - They have called off the event due to unforeseen circumstances.

Examples

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