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  1. #1
    Rock Girl's Avatar
    Rock Girl is offline Member
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    Smile which preposition is correct?

    Hi guys,
    I have a question.
    If I want to talk about "thinking about something that happened in the past", can I use the verb "look back"?
    What's its preposition? "on" or "to"?

    For example, which one is correct?
    A: I look back on a year ago when...
    B: I look back to a year ago when...

    Thanks in advance,

  2. #2
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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: which preposition is correct?

    Both are possible. For me, there is a difference, but this may be just personal.

    If I look back on a period of my life, I think about it, re-create it in my mind.
    If I look back to a certain period, I focus my attention on it, and perhaps pick out some things to think about.
    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


  3. #3
    Rock Girl's Avatar
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: which preposition is correct?

    thanks a lot

  4. #4
    billmcd is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: which preposition is correct?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rock Girl View Post
    Hi guys,
    I have a question.
    If I want to talk about "thinking about something that happened in the past", can I use the verb "look back"?
    What's its preposition? "on" or "to"?

    For example, which one is correct?
    A: I look back on a year ago when...
    B: I look back to a year ago when...

    Thanks in advance,
    Perhaps a slight difference for me: "on a year ago" = a period of time as in the entire year; "to a year ago" = a year ago from the time of speaking. Depends what follows "when".

  5. #5
    Rock Girl's Avatar
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: which preposition is correct?

    Quote Originally Posted by billmcd View Post
    Perhaps a slight difference for me: "on a year ago" = a period of time as in the entire year; "to a year ago" = a year ago from the time of speaking. Depends what follows "when".

    Thank you so much. I got it.

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