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

[Molly]

Written on the Internet:

5,220 English pages for "hello, who's there".
18,400 English pages for "I'll put you through".

And so on.

Can anyone be bothered to sort out Mr P's example form this lot?

68 English pages for "was asked to call * by".

[Yankee]

[MrPedantic]

[Molly]

Dealing with the unit "I was asked to call you" is where we are now.

[Molly]

[Molly]

[Molly]

"Miss Bennet? Miss Bennet? I was asked to call you at 5:00. Breakfast will be ready in half an hour. The gents will meet you in the parlor you were in last night. Milly here will help you get ready." The first maid hurried out to other duties. Jane and Lizzy got up and prepared for another day of travel. They went down to the parlor for breakfast. Mr. Darcy, already there, rose and greeted them. Mr. Bingley was nowhere in evidence.

http://www.austen.com/derby/janice2.htm

Any necessity or obligation attached there?

And, "I was asked to help" you can mean "I was asked if I would help you" or "I was told to help you", right?

What do you see as the difference, if any, in function here?

1. In 1998 I was asked if I would teach a meditation class at the NHSP for their drug and alcohol program.

2. In 1998 I was asked to teach a meditation class at the NHSP for their drug and alcohol program.

[Stew.t.]

Hi Molly

"You asked that I call you" likely as a version in regions of England, yes.
Even though some would consider it grammatically incorrect.

The spoken grammar is alright as it causes no miscommunication. I would even use it if I spoke with my Lancashire accent.
but more so;

"Ya askt that a call ya".
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[Stew.t.]

Hi Molly

Maybe for the other forum users elaborate on how this "if I would" is implied? Also linking it to ;

[Stew.t.]

Hi Molly

The example you give from Jane Eyre does support some obligation (sense of duty).

Without context and knowing that the obligation is explicit in the roles, duties of the profession of the speaker it would not be so clear to a learner. This is the kind of example that would have been useful in your initial response to the question.

Also a distinction should be made here between call as in telephone, and call as in shout, announce or get.

cheers stew.t.
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[Molly]

[Molly]

[Molly]

[Stew.t.]

Hi Molly

Here we get into your your fun discussion.

You see there is a big difference between written and spoken grammar, by spoken I mean grammar that occurs and does not necessarily hinder communication, used in modern teaching.

"ya askt that a call ya"
and
"You asked me to call you"

are both acceptable. The top as in "You asked that I call you", you could say from a pure grammarian perspective is the "correct" usage; something you might find in "Murphys" (a grammar bible)
What you might find more commonly in spoken is the use of me.

This also goes for the use of;

My girlfriend and I. (some say correct grammar)
Me and my boyfriend. (common spoken grammar)

cheers stew.t.
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Please meet Stewart Tunncilff

[Molly]