Unit 18: CALL Phrasal Verbs

Can-do Statement

I can understand and use CALL phrasal verbs in everyday English.

Many phrasal verbs with call are used when we talk about visits, telephone calls, asking for help, cancelling plans, and giving opinions.

Visual Context

Exercise Context
A busy city day with different people using call phrasal verbs: one person talking on a mobile phone and calling someone back, a friend calling round to visit a house, a manager calling in an expert to help, and a group cancelling an outdoor event because of rain, bright realistic educational illustration for English learners

Vocabulary: CALL Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb Meaning (Simple English) Example
call on sth need or use something The job calls on many different skills.
call on sb ask someone to speak or help The teacher called on Maria to answer.
call sb out criticize someone publicly She called him out for his rude behavior.
call sb out on sth criticize someone for a specific thing They called him out on his mistake.
call out sth say something loudly He called out her name.
call sb in ask someone to come and help They called in an engineer.
call in sth officially ask for something back The bank called in the loan.
call in on sb visit someone for a short time I called in on my aunt yesterday.
call by visit briefly Call by my office tomorrow.
call round visit someone's home My friends called round last night.
call sb back telephone someone again I'll call you back later.
call for sth / sb need, require, or demand This situation calls for action.
call for sb come to collect someone I'll call for you at 8 a.m.
call sth forth cause something to appear The song called forth happy memories.
call forth sth same meaning as above The speech called forth strong emotions.
call sth off cancel something They called off the match.
call sb up phone someone I called my friend up last night.
call sth up bring a memory or image to your mind The photo called up old memories.
call at sw stop briefly at a place The ship called at Singapore.

Key Meaning Groups

1. Telephone Calls

  • call sb up = phone someone
  • call sb back = return a phone call

Example: I called Tom up, but he was busy. He called me back later.

2. Visiting People or Places

  • call by = make a short visit
  • call round = visit someone's home
  • call in on sb = visit someone briefly
  • call at sw = stop at a place

3. Help, Need, or Request

  • call in sb = ask for help
  • call on sb = ask someone to act or speak
  • call for sth = require something

4. Opinions and Reactions

  • call sb out = criticize publicly
  • call out sth = shout something
  • call forth sth = produce a feeling or reaction
  • call up sth = bring memories to mind

5. Changing Plans

  • call sth off = cancel something

Example: They called off the picnic because of rain.

Grammar Focus: Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

Separable Phrasal Verbs

The object can go after the phrasal verb or between the verb and particle.

Examples:

  • I called Tom up.
  • I called up Tom.
  • I called him up. ✓
  • I called up him. ✗

Other separable verbs:

  • call off the meeting / call the meeting off
  • call forth memories / call memories forth
  • call back Sarah / call Sarah back

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

The object must stay after the whole phrasal verb.

  • call in on my uncle ✓
  • call on the manager ✓
  • call for more action ✓

Do not separate these expressions.

Worked Example 1: Phone Conversation

Situation: Anna phones Ben, but he does not answer.

Step 1: Anna calls Ben up.

Step 2: Ben sees the missed call.

Step 3: Ben calls Anna back.

Result: They speak later.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích

call up = gọi điện cho ai đó.

call back = gọi lại sau khi bỏ lỡ cuộc gọi hoặc cần trả lời cuộc gọi.

Worked Example 2: Visiting a Friend

Situation: David is near his friend's house.

He decides to call by for a short visit.

He also calls in on his grandmother on the way home.

Both actions are short visits.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích

call by = ghé qua.

call in on somebody = ghé thăm ai đó trong thời gian ngắn.

Worked Example 3: Cancelling an Event

Situation: A school plans a football match.

Heavy rain starts in the morning.

The school decides to call off the match.

Meaning: The match is cancelled and will not happen as planned.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích

call off = hủy bỏ một sự kiện, cuộc họp, trận đấu hoặc kế hoạch.

Ví dụ: call off a meeting, call off a trip, call off a game.

Quick Summary

  • call up = phone someone
  • call back = return a phone call
  • call by / call round / call in on = visit
  • call for = need or require
  • call in = ask for help
  • call out = shout or criticize
  • call forth = create feelings or reactions
  • call up sth = bring memories to mind
  • call off = cancel
  • call at = stop at a place