[Grammar] Call back

[greystroke]

Hi All,

In one of my classes recently a student wanted to know what was wrong with ' I will call back to you'? I know it sounds natural to say " I will call you back" but is there something wrong with the students construction? ( Especially when we do split Phrasal verbs like call up with a subject- I will call John up, I will call up John)

Please clarify.

Arun

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

***NOT A TEACHER***

In one of my classes recently a student wanted to know what was wrong with ' I will call back to you'? I know it sounds natural to say " I will call you back" but is there something wrong with the students construction? ( Especially when we do split Phrasal verbs like call up with a subject- I will call John up, I will call up John)

Yes, "to" is redundant:

I will call back [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] you.

And the word order is wrong. It should be:

I will call you back.

The phrasal verb is "call (somebody) back". This explains why "you" should be placed after "call".

 

[bhaisahab]

"I will call back to you" is not natural but it is grammatical. The phrasal verb "call back" can be used in different ways.

 

[5jj]

"I will call back to you" is not natural but it is grammatical.

hmmm

1. I looked the word up (in the dictionary):tick:
2. I looked up the word.:tick:

3. I looked up the chimney.:tick:
4. I looked the chimney up.:cross:

5. I'll give you a book. :tick:
6. I'll give a book to you. :tick:

I think we can say that #4 is not grammatical. It's not that it is unnatural; it's not possible with the 'grammar' of the verb + preposition.
Now, if we are talking about telephoning,

7. I'll call you back. :tick:
8. I'll call back to you. :cross:

#8 is not unnatural, it's ungrammatical. But, if we have two people arranging to shout (call) a message to each other across the steet,

9. I'll call you back.:cross:
10. I'll call back to you.:tick:

#10 is fine, but #9, I think, is not just unnatural, but ungrammatical.

 

[greystroke]

Dear 5jj

Your example of two people shouting across the street makes perfect sense.

Thanks,
Arun