What Is The Past Tense For Call?
The past tense of call is called. Call is a regular verb, so you need to add -ed to the end of the V1 form to get the V2 form of call, unlike other irregular verbs such as sleep.
The past participle of call is also called. You can check out the table below to get more verb forms of call.
| Base/Infinitive Form (V1) | call |
| Present Form/3rd Person/Singular Form | calls |
| Past Form (V2) | called |
| Past Participle Form (V3) | called |
| Present Participle/Gerund | calling |
How To Pronounce “Call” And “Called” Properly?
According to Collins Dictionary, the IPA transcription of call is /kɔːl/ in both British and American accents. The past tense called is pronounced as /kɔːld/. You can take a look at the table below to make it clearer.
| Verb Forms | Pronunciation | |
| British English language | American English language | |
| call | /kɔːl/ | /kɔːl/ |
| called (V2) | /kɔːld/ | /kɔːld/ |
| called (V3) | /kɔːld/ | /kɔːld/ |
| calling | /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/ | /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/ |
How to spell “call” and “called” correctly and naturally like native speakers? The videos below will help you:
What Are The Definitions Of Call? How To Use Called?
“Called” has the same meaning as the basic form – call. We use “called” as the past tense of call when we talk about the action that happened and was completed in the past.
The verb “call” has multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Below are its meanings:
- To use one’s voice to get someone’s attention
He called my name from across the room.
She called out to her friend from across the street, hoping that he would hear her over the noise of the traffic.
- To make a telephone call
I called my doctor to schedule an appointment yesterday.
I called my sister yesterday to wish her a happy birthday.
- To announce or declare something publicly
The school principal called an emergency meeting, but I didn’t get any announcement.
The president called for unity in his speech last night, urging the nation to come together in the face of adversity.
- To summon or request someone to come
He called his assistant into the room and gave her a special gift for her birthday.
The teacher called the students into the classroom after the morning bell had rung.
- To give a name to something or someone
They called their dog Max and began taking care of him 5 years ago.
The scientists called the newly discovered species of bird the “Red-crested Robin”.
- To consider or describe something in a particular way
Many people called him a genius those days as he could calculate numbers very fast.
The judge called the defendant’s actions reckless and sentenced him to five years in prison.
- To make a prediction or estimate
The weatherman called for rain all weekend, but it turned out to be sunny and dry instead.
- To stop something from happening or continuing
The coach called a time-out, and every competitor stopped the race when the final whistle blew.
The referee called the game due to the storm, ensuring the safety of the players and spectators.
This example includes the past tense of another verb – Stop. Click here for more.
- To say or recite something aloud
She called out the answers to the quiz, and that was the correct one.
The teacher called on the students to handle the problem, one by one.
- To make a short visit to a person or place
She was out when I called to see her.
We called at the museum on our way back from the park to see the new exhibit.
Exercises
FAQs
What Are Synonyms And Antonyms Of Call?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the synonyms of the verb call are: contact, reach out to, dial, phone, ring, buzz, notify, invite, summon, request, ask, order, command, shout, cry, and yell.
The antonyms of the verb call are: dismiss, ignore, reject, refuse, deny, disavow, disown, discredit, disregard, neglect, avoid, evade, shun, silence, suppress, and conceal.
Is Call a Noun?
Yes, “call” can be a noun. As a noun, “call” generally refers to a brief verbal or written communication. Below are two examples:
- I missed a call from my boss this morning.
In this sentence, “call” refers to a brief communication that the speaker’s boss attempted to make.
- The doctor made a house call to check on the sick child.
“Call” here refers to a visit made by the doctor to the sick child’s home to provide medical care.
What Are The Idioms Of The Verb Call?
There are several idiomatic expressions that use the verb “call” in English. Below are some examples:
- Call it a day: To stop working or doing something for the rest of the day.
Example: We called it a day after finishing the project.
- Call out: To publicly criticize or denounce someone or something.
Example: The opposition party called out the government’s lack of action on climate change.
- Call to arms: To encourage or rally people to take action against something.
Example: The president’s speech called to arms the citizens to unite and fight for their rights.
- Call a spade a spade: To speak plainly or honestly, even if it may be uncomfortable.
Example: I called a spade a spade and told him that his behavior was inappropriate.
- Call off: To cancel or postpone something that was previously scheduled.
Example: The concert was called off due to the bad weather.
- Call in sick: To inform one’s employer that one will not be coming to work because of illness.
Example: I felt terrible this morning, so I called in sick and stayed home.
- Call the shots: To be in charge or have the power to make decisions.
Example: As the CEO, he called the shots in that company.
- Call someone’s bluff: To challenge someone to prove that they can do what they say they can.
Example: I didn’t believe he could do it, so I called his bluff and asked him to show me.
His name is Benjamin Essek – The founder of Grammar Wiki. He is an English native speaker and has joined many English classes, learning communities to support other people with this common language as well.