“It’s called” and “it called” look almost identical, but they do very different jobs in English.
For learners, the confusion usually comes from the apostrophe in it’s and from the fact that both expressions contain the word called.
If you want to say that something has a particular name, the correct expression is usually “it’s called.”
For example:
It’s called a smartphone.
Here, it’s means “it is.” The sentence means, “It is called a smartphone.”
By contrast, “it called” is not normally used to give something a name. In most contexts, it is part of a past-tense sentence in which it is the subject and called is the verb:
It called me yesterday.
Here, called means telephoned, so the sentence means that something or someone called me.
There is another important possibility: “it called” can appear when it refers to an animal, organization, machine, or another thing that made a call or sound:
The bird called loudly.
The key is to understand what called means in the sentence.
Once you understand the difference between it’s = it is and it = subject + called = verb, the confusion becomes much easier.
This guide explains the grammar, shows natural examples, covers common mistakes, and gives you simple ways to remember which form to use.
What Does “It’s Called” Mean?
“It’s called” is the shortened form of “it is called.”
The apostrophe in it’s is important because it represents the missing letter in the contraction:
it is → it’s
When we say:
It’s called English.
we mean:
It is called English.
The expression is commonly used when we tell someone the name, title, label, or term used for something.
When do we use “it’s called”?
Use “it’s called” when you are identifying the name of something.
This could be:
- a person
- a place
- an object
- a food
- an animal
- a language
- a song
- a movie
- a method
- a product
- an idea
- a process
For example:
- It’s called a laptop.
- It’s called the Grand Hotel.
- It’s called Spanish.
- It’s called a cappuccino.
- It’s called artificial intelligence.
- It’s called the Eiffel Tower.
- It’s called a deadline.
- It’s called “Yesterday.”
In each example, “it’s called” introduces a name or term.
The basic grammar pattern
A very useful structure is:
It’s called + name/term.
For example:
It’s called a bicycle.
Or:
It’s called the Blue House.
You can also use a longer passive structure:
It is called a bicycle.
The meaning is exactly the same. The shorter version, “it’s called,” is especially common in everyday conversation.
“Called” here is part of a passive construction
There is a useful grammar point hiding inside this simple expression.
In:
It’s called a smartphone.
the thing receives the name. Someone calls it a smartphone.
The full idea is:
People call it a smartphone.
When we turn that into a passive construction:
It is called a smartphone.
And in everyday English:
It’s called a smartphone.
This is why “it’s called” is the natural expression when you’re explaining what something is named.
Common learner confusion
Many learners leave out the apostrophe and write:
It called a smartphone.
That changes the grammar completely.
It’s called a smartphone means:
It is named a smartphone.
But:
It called me.
means:
It telephoned me.
The apostrophe is therefore not a tiny decoration. It changes the structure and meaning of the sentence.
What Does “It Called” Mean?
“It called” is different from “it’s called.”
Here, it is a pronoun functioning as the subject, and called is the past tense of the verb call.
For example:
It called me yesterday.
This means that it telephoned me yesterday.
The word called can have several meanings, depending on context. It may mean:
- telephoned
- shouted or cried out
- summoned someone
- made a particular sound
- communicated by calling
When do we use “it called”?
Use “it called” when it is the thing or creature that performed the action of calling.
Examples:
- It called me twice yesterday.
- The machine called the number automatically.
- The bird called from the tree.
- The dog called for attention.
- The system called the emergency number.
- It called again after five minutes.
- The owl called during the night.
- The child called for his mother.
In these sentences, called is an ordinary past-tense verb.
The grammar pattern
The basic structure is:
Subject + called + object/complement
For example:
It called me.
Here:
- It = subject
- called = past-tense verb
- me = object
Another example:
It called the number.
Here:
- It = subject
- called = verb
- the number = object
“It called” does not normally give something a name
This is the central difference.
If you want to say:
The name of this food is naan.
you might say:
It’s called naan.
You would not normally say:
It called naan.
The second sentence sounds as though it performed the action of calling naan, which does not express the intended meaning.
Common learner confusion
The problem often comes from pronunciation.
In natural speech, “it’s called” can sound very quick:
It’s called…
A learner may hear it almost as “its called” and then wonder whether the apostrophe matters.
It does.
It’s = it is
Its = possessive form
For example:
It’s called a tiger.
means:
It is called a tiger.
But:
The dog wagged its tail.
Here, its shows possession. There is no apostrophe.
Difference Between “It’s Called” and “It Called”
The simplest way to separate the two expressions is to look at the role of called.
With “it’s called,” the expression normally tells us what something is named.
With “it called,” called is the past-tense action performed by it.
Comparison Table
| Expression | Grammar | Main meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| It’s called | it is + called | It has a particular name | It’s called a tablet. |
| It called | subject + past verb | It made a call/action | It called me yesterday. |
| It is called | full form of it’s called | It has a particular name | It is called a tablet. |
| It calls | subject + present verb | It makes calls regularly | It calls me every day. |
1. “It’s called” identifies a name
It’s called a passport.
You are explaining the name of something.
The sentence is equivalent to:
It is called a passport.
2. “It called” describes an action in the past
It called me last night.
Here, called is not a name-giving expression. It is an action.
The sentence could be rewritten as:
It telephoned me last night.
3. “It’s called” is passive
This is an important grammar distinction.
Compare:
People call it a smartphone.
and:
It’s called a smartphone.
The first sentence is active. People perform the action.
The second is passive. It receives the action.
That is why the structure works for names and labels.
4. “It called” is active
Now look at:
It called me.
Here, it is performing the action.
There is no contraction.
The sentence is simply:
subject + past-tense verb + object
Sentence Structure Difference
“It’s called”
It + is + called + name
It’s called a smartphone.
“It called”
It + called + object
It called me.
These structures may look similar on the page, but grammatically they are very different.
Meaning Comparison
Compare these two sentences:
It’s called a smart speaker.
It called me this morning.
The first tells us what something is named.
The second tells us what something did.
That distinction is the key to the entire topic.
Grammar Rules You Must Remember
Rule #1: Use “it’s” when you mean “it is”
If you can replace it’s with it is, the apostrophe is correct.
It’s called a dictionary.
Try expanding it:
It is called a dictionary.
The sentence still works, so it’s is correct.
Another example:
It’s very expensive.
→ It is very expensive.
Again, the contraction works.
Rule #2: Use “it’s called” for names and labels
When you tell someone what something is named, use:
it’s called + name
For example:
This dish is called biryani.
You can say:
It’s called biryani.
You are identifying the name of the dish.
Rule #3: Use “it called” when “called” is a past-tense action
If it performed the action, use it called.
It called me at midnight.
Here, called means telephoned.
Another example:
The bird called from the roof.
The bird made a calling sound.
Rule #4: Test the sentence with “it is”
This is one of the easiest grammar tests.
If you write:
It’s called a camera.
replace it’s with it is:
It is called a camera.
Correct.
But if you write:
It’s called me yesterday.
replace it:
It is called me yesterday.
That does not work.
The intended sentence is probably:
It called me yesterday.
This simple substitution test can prevent many mistakes.
Common Mistakes Students Make
The confusion between these expressions usually happens for three reasons: pronunciation, contractions, and the different meanings of “called.”
Mistake 1: Writing “it called” when naming something
Incorrect:
It called a smartphone.
If you mean “Its name is smartphone,” use:
It’s called a smartphone.
The apostrophe represents is.
Mistake 2: Writing “it’s called” when talking about a phone call
Incorrect:
It’s called me yesterday.
If you mean that something telephoned you, write:
It called me yesterday.
You cannot say it is called me because the grammar does not fit.
Mistake 3: Confusing “its” and “it’s”
This is one of the most common apostrophe mistakes in English.
It’s means:
It’s Called vs It Called
Examples:
It’s Called vs It Called
It’s Called vs It Called
Its shows possession:
It’s Called vs It Called
It’s Called vs It Called
A useful test is simple:
If you can replace it’s with it is, use the apostrophe.
Mistake 4: Assuming every “called” sentence is about names
The word called has several uses.
It’s Called vs It Called
Here, called relates to a name.
But:
It’s Called vs It Called
Here, called means telephoned.
And:
It’s Called vs It Called
Here, called refers to a sound.
Context determines the meaning.
Easy correction tip
When you are unsure, ask:
“Am I telling someone the name of something?”
If yes, it’s called is probably what you need.
If you are saying that it performed the action of calling, use it called.
Easy Trick to Remember the Difference
There is a very simple trick.
“It’s called” = “It is called”
Think of the apostrophe as hiding the word is.
It’s Called vs It Called
→ It is called pizza.
If that expanded sentence makes sense, use it’s.
“It called” = “It did the calling”
Think of called as an action.
It’s Called vs It Called
Something performed the action of calling.
You can replace called with another past-tense action:
It’s Called vs It Called
It’s Called vs It Called
It’s Called vs It Called
That helps you recognize that it called is an active sentence.
A classroom shortcut
Remember:
Name? → It’s called.
Action? → It called.
For example:
It’s Called vs It Called
It’s Called vs It Called
But:
It’s Called vs It Called
It’s Called vs It Called
That tiny question-and-answer test works surprisingly well.
Daily Life Examples
1. Asking about an object
A: What do you call this tool?
B: It’s called a screwdriver.
The speaker is giving the object’s name.
2. Talking about a phone call
A: Did anyone contact you last night?
B: Yes. It called me around midnight.
Here, called describes an action.
3. Asking about food
A: What is this dish called?
B: It’s called pasta primavera.
The expression identifies the dish’s name.
4. Talking about technology
A: What do you call that little device?
B: It’s called a smartwatch.
Again, the sentence gives a name.
5. Describing an unexpected phone call
A: Why did you wake up?
B: My phone called me with an emergency alert.
Here, called refers to an action or alert.
6. Talking about an animal
A: What kind of bird is that?
B: It’s called a kingfisher.
The speaker is naming the bird.
7. Describing a sound
A: What made that strange noise?
B: The bird called from the garden.
Here, called describes the sound the bird made.
8. Asking about a place
A: What’s that restaurant called?
B: It’s called The Garden Café.
This is a very common everyday use of it’s called.
9. Talking about a machine
A: What happened to the alarm?
B: It called the security company automatically.
Here, the machine performed an action.
10. Explaining a new word
A: Is there a name for this situation?
B: Yes. It’s called a misunderstanding.
The expression introduces the term used for the situation.
Practice Section
Choose it’s called or it called in each sentence.
1.
What is this fruit called?
___ a mango.
2.
My phone ___ me at six this morning.
3.
Do you know the name of that building?
___ the City Hall.
4.
The alarm ___ the police automatically.
5.
What do people call this type of exercise?
___ interval training.
Answers
1. It’s called — You are giving the name of the fruit.
2. it called — The phone performed the action of calling.
3. It’s called — You are identifying the building’s name.
4. it called — The alarm performed an action in the past.
5. It’s called — You are identifying the name of the exercise.
FAQs
What is the difference between “it’s called” and “it called”?
“It’s called” means “it is called” and is normally used to give the name of something. “It called” uses called as a past-tense verb and means that it performed an action such as making a phone call or making a calling sound.
Can “it’s called” be used in questions?
Yes, although questions usually use a slightly different structure.
For example:
It’s Called vs It Called
This is one of the most common ways to ask for the name of something.
You can also say:
It’s Called vs It Called
Here, it is being identified by name.
Is “it’s called” formal or informal?
“It’s called” is standard English and works in both everyday conversation and writing.
The full form “it is called” can sound slightly more formal or deliberate, but the meaning is the same.
Is “it called” always about making a phone call?
No. Called has several meanings.
It can mean telephoned:
It’s Called vs It Called
It can also describe a sound:
It’s Called vs It Called
The context tells you which meaning is intended.
Can I write “its called” without an apostrophe?
Normally, no, if you mean “it is called.”
You should write:
It’s Called vs It Called
The apostrophe is necessary because it’s is the contraction of it is.
Without the apostrophe, its is a possessive word:
It’s Called vs It Called
How can I quickly decide between “it’s called” and “it called”?
Ask yourself whether you are giving a name or describing an action.
If you are giving a name, use:
It’s Called vs It Called
If it performed a calling action in the past, use:
It’s Called vs It Called
Another quick test is to expand it’s to it is. If the sentence still makes sense, the apostrophe is probably correct.
Conclusion
The difference between “it’s called” and “it called” comes down to one small apostrophe and one important grammatical distinction.
“It’s called” is short for “it is called.” Use it when you are telling someone the name or label of something:
It’s Called vs It Called
“It called,” on the other hand, is a normal past-tense structure. Here, it is the subject and called describes an action:
It’s Called vs It Called
The easiest way to remember the difference is to ask yourself one question: Am I giving a name or describing an action?
For a name, choose it’s called. For a past action, choose it called.
Also keep an eye on its vs it’s, because that apostrophe causes many English learners trouble.
Practice these forms in short, everyday sentences rather than memorizing complicated grammar rules.
Once you start noticing the difference in real conversations, choosing the correct form becomes much more automatic.
Oliver Bennett is an English language educator and content writer passionate about simplifying grammar. He creates clear, practical lessons, writing tips, and learning resources that help readers improve their English with confidence.
