Explain this type of sentence: I was asked to call you.

[Molly]

[Molly]

[Yankee]

[Stew.t.]

Molly

[Molly]

We can differ on whether obligation is sometimes involved, but I can't understand the denial of Necessity with this form.

[Molly]

[Stew.t.]

Hi Molly

So if one is asked/requested to call someone they should feel obliged to do this?

I think this depends on the frame of their relationship does it not?

If you are asked to call someone, you may not, so are you therefore neglecting some sense of obligation you should have?
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Molly]

[Molly]

[Stew.t.]

Hi Molly

I do not give definitions as my explanations. I would teach it dependent on level.

In all cases I would have a contextual example. And I often teach in a generative manner and not necessarily a "grammar" unit.

Most contextual examples would be on such lines as this (self penned);

A"Why are you calling so late?"
B"I was asked to call you.
He said it´d be a good idea to let you know before your hols".

If I was to focus on B, I would try to elicit from my students the function of
"I was asked to call you".

So lets say they said it was reported speech.
Then I would ask how then know this.
Some may mention the form, others because he asked speaker B to call last night or sometime in the past.

I may then wrap up with from this context you could therefore say it is a past request, formed in reported speech in the time of speaking.

Just off the top of my head ; )

If I was teaching higher level students I may mention some sense of obligation. As in my example with "Please.........."

cheers stew.t.
_________________
Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[MrPedantic]

[Molly]

Can't find any examples of "I was asked to call you by...". Can anyone else?

[MrPedantic]

[Yankee]

[Molly]