With the start of the new year, you may be looking back on 2022 as well as looking ahead to 2023, so today I’d like to share some verbs and phrasal verbs for talking about remembering the past as well as looking forward to things yet to come!

Verbs and phrasal verbs for the past

Remember, recall, and recollect are the main verbs used to describe thinking about the past. Remember is more common, while recall and recollect sound more formal. Remind is slightly different; it is used when something makes us remember something. So, people remember events in the past, but a word, image, or something else may remind people of a past event.

Ex. I can’t recall what we did for Christmas last year.

Ex. That picture reminds me of when we all went camping together.

Note that remember, recall, and recollect can all be followed directly by an object (without a preposition). Remind follows the pattern “something reminds someone of something” (with the preposition “of”).  

The following verbs and phrasal verbs related to remembering all require a preposition if they are used transitively (with an object).

When we look back on or think back on something, we think about something that happened in the past. These phrasal verbs are more or less equal to remember/recall/recollect. They are neutral expressions, so you can look/think back on something fondly or with regret. 

Ex. Looking back on 2022, the world certainly faced a lot of challenges.

When we reflect on something, we consider or think carefully about it. It is often used when we think about things that we’ve done and things that have already happened. At the end of the year, many people reflect on what they accomplished. (Keep in mind, though, that you can also reflect on things that haven’t happened yet; it isn’t always about the past!)

Ex. Take some time to reflect on how much progress you made this year. 

When we reminisce about something, we recall past experience and events, often speaking or writing about them with pleasure. “Reminisce” is often used when we think about events in the more distant past and things that make us nostalgic - things we did with childhood friends, family trips and holidays, fun times with classmates or coworkers, etc.

Ex. We all went out for drinks together and spent the evening reminiscing about the old days. 

Verbs and phrasal verbs for the future

Of course, using the verb plan (on doing / to do) is one of the most common ways to express what one is thinking about doing in the future. It’s less common but also possible to say that you intend (on doing / to do) something. Intend is more formal but may be a good choice if you want to show strong commitment to accomplishing something. 

Ex. I intend to find a new job by the end of this year.

Ex. What are you planning to do in 2023?

When we look forward to something, we expect something with pleasure. People look forward to the things that they want/hope to do in the future. This phrasal verb can be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund but not by a base form verb, so be sure to say, for example, “I’m looking forward tostarting a new job” and not “I’m looking forward tostart a new job.”

Ex. Are you looking forward to traveling this year?

When we look ahead to something, we are thinking about what will happen in the future. The object of this phrasal verb is often a future time, such as “the future,” “the spring,” “next year,” etc. 

Ex. Looking ahead to next month, it seems like we’ll be extremely busy.

When we anticipate something, we imagine or expect something that will happen in the future. Typically, there is some reason or evidence to support this expectation. For example, if you say “I don’t anticipate any problems,” it means that to the best of your knowledge or based on your experience, you do not expect to encounter any problems. 

Ex. Many economists are anticipating a recession in 2023.

There are, of course, many other verbs and phrasal verbs for talking about the past and the future in this way, such as simply saying that you hope, want, or would like to do something in the future, but perhaps this is enough for today. I hope these words will help you to talk about what happened in 2022 and what you’re looking forward to in 2023 in English!

Zach