Call on means to formally ask someone to do something, or to visit someone briefly. In the first meaning, the person is followed by to + verb: call on the government to act. This is common in news, reports and essays, and formal speech also uses call upon. The meaning “visit” sounds a little formal; in everyday speech people more often say drop by or visit.
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call on/upon + person + to + verb; call on + person (= visit briefly)
- The union has called on the company to review its pay policy this year.
- While we were in Leeds, we called on my aunt for a quick cup of tea.
- The head teacher called on parents to keep their cars away from the school gate.
What changed
First versionThe mayor called residents to save water during the hot summer.
RevisionThe mayor called on residents to save water during the hot summer.
Without on, the verb is followed directly by the people, and call residents then means “phone the residents” or “call them over”. The meaning of urging people to act appears only with on: call on + person + to + verb.
Call on goes before a person; call for goes before the thing being demanded: The report calls for stricter rules. Compare: The report calls on the government to introduce stricter rules. In American schools, call on also means “to ask a student to answer”: The teacher called on me first.
Your turn
In an open letter, scientists ___ world leaders to cut emissions faster.
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called on — The open letter urges leaders to act, so called on is needed. Called world leaders would mean the scientists phoned the leaders or invited them over, and a letter does neither.
Write about a problem in your town or neighbourhood. Say who you would call on to solve it and what exactly needs to be done.
Traffic near our school is dangerous, so I would call on the city council to build safe bike lanes.
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