What Does โCall upon sb to do sthโ Mean?
โCall upon sb to do sthโ means to formally ask or request someone to do something, often in an official or serious way.
Introduction
The phrase โcall upon sb to do sthโ is commonly used in formal English to express a request or demand that someone takes action. It is often found in speeches, official statements, or written communication where a person or group is urged to perform a particular task or duty. Understanding the โcall upon sb to do sth meaningโ helps learners use it correctly to sound polite yet firm. This phrase is useful when you want to highlight the importance or urgency of an action. It can also be used in legal, political, or social contexts where a formal appeal is made. Learning how to use this phrase properly will improve your speaking and writing skills, especially in professional or academic settings.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: call upon somebody to do something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: formally ask or request someone to do something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCall upon sb to do sthโ is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate โcall uponโ by placing the object in between.
Common pattern:
- call upon + somebody + to + base verb (infinitive)
Example: They called upon the government to act quickly.
How to Use โCall upon sb to do sthโ?
Use โcall upon sb to do sthโ when making a formal or serious request. It is appropriate in official speeches, announcements, or written appeals. The phrase emphasizes that the action is important and expected.
It is often used with organizations, officials, or groups rather than informal requests between friends.
Examples
- The mayor called upon citizens to help during the emergency.
- The teacher called upon the students to submit their assignments on time.
- The committee called upon the company to improve working conditions.
- During the meeting, the leader called upon everyone to stay calm and focused.
- The report calls upon the government to invest more in education.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She called upon to finish the project.
- Correct: She called upon him to finish the project.
- Incorrect: They called the team upon to join the event.
- Correct: They called upon the team to join the event.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โask sb to do sth,โ โurge sb to do sth,โ and โrequest sb to do sth.โ
- Call upon sb to do sth is more formal and often used in official contexts.
- Ask sb to do sth is more general and can be informal.
- Urge sb to do sth implies a strong recommendation or insistence.
- Request sb to do sth is polite and formal but less forceful than โcall upon.โ
Common Collocations
- call upon the government
- call upon citizens
- call upon authorities
- call upon students
- call upon organizations
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of call upon sb to do sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: The community center called upon us to volunteer this weekend.
Ben: Thatโs great! Itโs important to help out when they ask us.
Anna: Yes, they want everyone to participate in cleaning the park.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of โcall upon sb to do sthโ:
The president ________ the citizens ________ conserve water during the drought.
- a) called upon / to
- b) calls upon / to
- c) called upon / conserve
- d) called upon / conserving
Answer: a) called upon / to
FAQs
- Q: Is โcall upon sb to do sthโ formal or informal?
A: It is a formal phrase used in official or serious contexts.
- Q: Can I use โcall uponโ in everyday conversation?
A: It is less common in casual talk but can be used to sound polite and serious.
- Q: What is the difference between โcall uponโ and โaskโ?
โCall uponโ is more formal and often stronger than โask.โ
- Q: Can โcall uponโ be separated by the object?
No, โcall uponโ is inseparable. The object must come after the phrase.
- Q: Is โcall uponโ used only with people?
Usually yes, but it can also refer to organizations or groups.
