called/called on

[angliholic]

The teacher called on Elena several times, but she made no reply.
The teacher called Elena several times, but she made no reply.


Do both of the above two sentences make sense to you? If yes, are there slight shades in meanings? Thanks.

[meez]

the first would if Elena was a queen or a judge...(but I assume she isn't)
the second one is ok..

[angliholic]

Thanks, meez.
But does the first one mean exactly?

[Anglika]

The teacher called on Elena several times, but she made no reply.
The teacher called Elena several times, but she made no reply.


Do both of the above two sentences make sense to you? If yes, are there slight shades in meanings? Thanks.

To call on someone means to turn to that person as a source of help [there is another meaning = to visit, but it is not relevant to this sentence]: "When I could not understand the lesson, I called on Elena who is good at English."

[angliholic]

To call on someone means to turn to that person as a source of help [there is another meaning = to visit, but it is not relevant to this sentence]: "When I could not understand the lesson, I called on Elena who is good at English."

Thanks, Anglika, for your clear reply.
For the sake of clarity, does "turn to Elena for help" fit in the first sentence?

[Anglika]

It might. Perhaps the teacher is asking Elena to do something for her.

[angliholic]

Got it, and thanks, Anglika.

[riverkid]

To call on someone means to turn to that person as a source of help [there is another meaning = to visit, but it is not relevant to this sentence]: "When I could not understand the lesson, I called on Elena who is good at English."

There is a more neutral meaning, Anglika that maybe isn't used in BrE. It carries no connotation of the person being "good at something".

++++++++++++++++
M-W:

call on

2: to elicit a response from (as a student) <the teacher called on her first>

Definition of call - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

+++++++++++++++++++++

"The teacher called Elena several times, but she made no reply."

Here 'called' has a meaning of yelled/shouted to'.


"The teacher called Elena several times, but as Elena was way across the soccer field and the wind was blowing, she made no reply."

[angliholic]

Thanks, riverkid, for the extra info.
Do you mean that the first sentence indicates "The teachered asked Elena to reply a question several times?"

[riverkid]

Thanks, riverkid, for the extra info.
Do you mean that the first sentence indicates "The teacher asked Elena to reply to a question several times?"

Without more context there's no absolute way to know. It could mean what Anglika suggested, A.