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Learning Foundations

[Phrasal Verb Practice] Let's Go Over 2016!

Practise two useful phrasal verbs for reflecting on the past: “look back on” and “go over.” Vanessa models complete year-end sentences and shows how an -ing phrase can work as a subject.

Read the full lesson summary

This lesson helps English learners talk about the year that has passed by practising two useful phrasal verbs: “look back on” and “go over.” Vanessa invites viewers to remember meaningful events, achievements, and challenges, then models ways to turn those memories into complete sentences. “Look back on 2016” means reflect on that period from the present. It is not a physical action with the eyes. Learners can complete the frame with a positive event: “Looking back on 2016, finding Vanessa’s live lessons was a great thing that happened,” or create their own example about work, study, travel, or a personal goal.

One grammar point is how an -ing form can begin a sentence and act as its subject: “Going hiking every month was a great thing that happened to me.” The speaker also shows that the second half of the sentence is flexible. Instead of naming an activity with an -ing phrase, learners can use a past-tense verb, as in “I improved my English skills.” The key is to say a full thought and make the example personal. Vanessa encourages viewers to practise in the chat and to say their answers aloud so they can use familiar grammar more actively.

The second phrasal verb, “go over,” means review or examine something carefully. Vanessa distinguishes this from its literal sense of physically crossing over an object or place. “We went over some memories from 2016” means the speaker reviewed or thought through those memories. The lesson combines both target phrases in a model: “I will go over and look back on 2016.” Learners can use the same pattern to review what went well, what they learned, and what they might change next year. “Look forward to” then shifts attention toward the future; it is followed by a noun or an -ing form, as in “look forward to starting.”

To practise, set aside a few minutes and write a short list of good and difficult experiences. Choose one item, describe it with “look back on,” then review what it taught you with “go over.” Add an -ing phrase or a past-tense sentence to explain what happened. The lesson’s seasonal examples are from 2016, but the reflection frames work for any year, project, course, or personal milestone.

S2.1
Speak English With VanessaAmerican English25:23

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Transcript

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:03

Set up an end-of-year reflection lesson and introduce useful phrasal verbs

hello hello welcome to today's live YouTube lesson I'm Vanessa and welcome to the speak English with Vanessa YouTube page I'm so glad that you're to learn English with me and with our community this is excellent today we're going to be talking about some but we're not going to talk about just a list of phrasal verbs we're going to use them to talk about the past

Try it: Name one meaningful event from your past year. Use “look back on” or “go over” and say what you learned.

Phrase cheat sheet

All phrases at a glance

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16 phrases

Showing 16 of 16 phrases

taking time out of your busy day

Set up an end-of-year reflection lesson and introduce useful phrasal verbs · expression

Setting aside some of your limited time to do a particular activity.

Tone and use: Warm and appreciative. Use it to acknowledge that someone has chosen to spend time on something.

May not fit: For a formal schedule, state the amount of time directly.

Example“Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to meet with us.”

phrasal verbs

Set up an end-of-year reflection lesson and introduce useful phrasal verbs · collocation

Verb combinations formed with a particle such as “up,” “on,” or “over,” often with a meaning that differs from the verb alone.

Tone and use: A common language-learning term. Use it when discussing expressions such as “look back on” and “go over.”

May not fit: Do not assume a learner knows the term; give an example when teaching it.

Example“We practised three phrasal verbs that people use in everyday conversation.”

think about the past

Set up an end-of-year reflection lesson and introduce useful phrasal verbs · expression

Consider earlier events and experiences, often to understand what they mean now.

Tone and use: Neutral and reflective. Use it when reviewing experiences before making plans or drawing conclusions.

May not fit: Use “remember” for simply recalling a detail without deeper thought.

Example“At the end of the project, the team thought about the past six months and what they had learned.”

keep it in mind

Set up an end-of-year reflection lesson and introduce useful phrasal verbs · expression

Remember an idea and continue to consider it later.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Use it when an instruction, suggestion, or fact may be useful in the future.

May not fit: Use “memorize it” if you specifically mean learning something exactly.

Example“Keep it in mind when you plan next month’s schedule.”

look back on

Set up an end-of-year reflection lesson and introduce useful phrasal verbs · phrasal verb

Think about or reflect on an earlier time or experience.

Tone and use: Neutral and reflective. Use it to review a past event, period, or memory from the present.

May not fit: It is figurative here; use “turn around and look behind you” for the physical action.

Example“When I look back on my first job, I can see how much I learned.”

a great thing that happened

Introduce “look back on” and model a sentence about the past year · expression

A simple sentence frame for naming a positive event or experience.

Tone and use: Conversational and positive. Use it to introduce a memorable event, often after “one” or “something.”

May not fit: For formal writing, use a more specific description of the event.

Example“One great thing that happened this year was reconnecting with my cousin.”

pass by pretty quickly

Introduce “look back on” and model a sentence about the past year · expression

Seem to go past or finish quite fast.

Tone and use: Conversational and mildly emphatic. Use it about time that feels as if it has moved quickly.

May not fit: For an exact duration, state the time rather than describing how it feels.

Example“The weekend passed by pretty quickly.”

keep it up

Explain how an -ing form can work as the subject of a sentence · phrasal verb

Continue doing something well or maintain your effort.

Tone and use: Encouraging and friendly. Use it to praise someone’s ongoing effort or progress.

May not fit: It can sound generic; name the specific progress when possible.

Example“Your pronunciation is improving—keep it up!”

a step by step process

Explain how an -ing form can work as the subject of a sentence · expression

A process that develops through a sequence of stages rather than all at once.

Tone and use: Reassuring and practical. Use it to explain gradual progress or a procedure with clear stages.

May not fit: Do not promise a fixed sequence if the process is unpredictable.

Example“Learning to drive is a step-by-step process.”

a good fit

Learners reflect on jobs, courses, travel, and other experiences · expression

Suitable for a person’s needs, interests, or circumstances.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Use it when deciding whether a job, class, activity, or option suits someone.

May not fit: Say what qualities make it suitable when the reason is important.

Example“The evening class was a good fit for her work schedule.”

go over

Introduce “go over” as reviewing or examining information · phrasal verb

Review, examine, or discuss something carefully; the lesson contrasts this mental meaning with physically crossing over something.

Tone and use: Neutral and widely used. Use it for reviewing notes, events, plans, or information together.

May not fit: Specify the topic if “it” or the context is unclear.

Example“Let’s go over the main points before the presentation.”

went over some memories

Use “go over” to review the year and learn from past events · expression

Reviewed or thought through memories from an earlier period.

Tone and use: Reflective and conversational. Use it when describing a past conversation or activity focused on earlier experiences.

May not fit: “Go over” can sound like an organized review; use “reminisce” for a more nostalgic tone.

Example“We went over some memories from our college years.”

say it out loud

Practise “go over” and “look back on” aloud in one complete sentence · expression

Speak something audibly rather than keeping it in your thoughts.

Tone and use: Direct and encouraging. Use it when asking someone to practise or express an idea verbally.

May not fit: Use “read it aloud” when the person is reading a written text.

Example“Write your goal down, then say it out loud.”

look forward to

Look back on past experiences and look forward to the next year · phrasal verb

Anticipate a future event or experience with positive feelings.

Tone and use: Optimistic and forward-looking. Use it for something in the future that you feel pleased or excited about.

May not fit: Follow “to” with a noun or an -ing verb, not a bare verb.

Example“We are looking forward to the new opportunities next year.”

stick in your memory

Look back on past experiences and look forward to the next year · expression

Remain easy to remember over time.

Tone and use: Conversational and vivid. Use it for a phrase, event, or idea that stays memorable.

May not fit: Use “memorize” when you mean deliberate learning rather than lasting naturally.

Example“The unusual example helped the new phrase stick in my memory.”

remember these top three tips

Review both phrasal verbs and encourage learners to retain and reuse them · expression

Keep the three most important suggestions available in your memory for later use.

Tone and use: Direct and encouraging. Use it to remind someone to retain a short set of useful recommendations.

May not fit: For a specific instruction, name the exact action or tip rather than referring vaguely to “these.”

Example“Before the interview, remember these top three tips for answering clearly.”

Knowledge check

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What it means · “look back on”

If you look back on the past year, what are you doing?