CALL BACK; CALL somebody BACK

Mar 2, 2017

Study box. Read these sentences carefully.

1. I’m afraid Mr. Smith is in a meeting. Can you call back later?
2. There’s a phone message for you. Can you call John back this evening?
3. I left lots of messages for Sue, but she never called me back.
Use the sentences in the study box to help you do these exercises.
- Two of the sentences below are correct explanations of this meaning of ‘call somebody back’. Which one is NOT correct?
  - to telephone somebody again
  - to telephone somebody
  - to telephone somebody who telephoned you earlier
- Which of these are grammatically possible?
  - I called back later.
  - I called my parents back later.
  - I called back my parents later.
  - I called them back later.
  - I called back them later.
Complete these sentences in an appropriate way, using a form of ‘call back’ or ‘call somebody back’ and anything else the sentence needs:
- She wasn’t in when I phoned the first time, so I . . .
  called her back
  later.
  - called her back
  - called back her
- I’m rather busy at the moment, Sam. Can I . . .
  call you back
  ?
  - call you back
  - call back you
- I left a message with his secretary and he . . .
  called me back
  .
  - called me back
  - called back me
- I’ve phoned her three times today, but she hasn’t . . .
  called me back
  yet.
  - called me back
  - called back me