← Back to lessons
B2At a Conference

Master 'Sum Up' at Conferences

Phrasal Verb: sum up |Grammar: Past Simple

Objective

Students will learn how to use 'sum up' correctly in the Past Simple tense to effectively summarize presentations at a conference.

Article

Last week, the international science conference took place in London. Many experts presented their research, and at the end of each session, the speakers summed up their main points. For example, Dr Smith summed up her study on climate change by highlighting the key impacts on coastal cities. Later, Mr Johnson summed up his talk about renewable energy by emphasising the progress made in solar technology. Attendees appreciated when presenters summed up clearly because it helped them understand complex topics quickly. The conference organiser also summed up the event on the final day, thanking all participants and summarising the main outcomes. Overall, the ability to sum up effectively made the event more engaging and informative for everyone involved.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

To 'sum up' means to give a brief summary or conclusion of the main points.

Grammar Note

The Past Simple tense is used to describe actions that happened and finished in the past. Regular verbs add -ed, while irregular verbs change form.

Usage Tips

  • Use 'sum up' to conclude or summarise information clearly.
  • In the Past Simple, say 'summed up' when talking about completed actions in the past.
  • Commonly used after presentations or speeches to wrap up key ideas.

Examples

The speaker summed up the main findings at the end of her presentation.

After a presentation

He summed up his argument quickly before the Q&A session.

Before questions

They summed up the workshop by reviewing the key techniques learned.

At the end of a workshop

The moderator summed up the discussion points after all speakers finished.

After a panel discussion

We summed up the benefits of the new software during the meeting yesterday.

In a past meeting

Dialogue

Context: Two colleagues discuss how to sum up a presentation they just heard at a conference.

A:
Did you notice how the presenter summed up her key points clearly?
B:
Yes, she really summed up the complicated data well in a few sentences.
A:
I think we should sum up our talk like that when it's our turn.
B:
Absolutely, summing up helps the audience remember the main ideas.
A:
Last year, we didn’t sum up our presentation, and some people seemed lost.
B:
This time, we’ll make sure we summed up everything clearly before finishing.

Vocabulary

Summarise
To give a brief statement of the main points.
Example: She summarised the report in just two minutes.
Synonym: sum up
Presentation
A speech or talk given to an audience.
Example: His presentation on technology was very informative.
Synonym: talk
Conference
A formal meeting where people discuss particular topics.
Example: The conference attracted experts from all over the world.
Synonym: meeting
Highlight
To emphasise the most important parts.
Example: She highlighted the key findings during her talk.
Synonym: emphasise
Conclusion
The final part which sums up something.
Example: The conclusion of his speech was very clear.
Synonym: summary
Recap
To repeat the main points briefly.
Example: Let me recap the main ideas before we finish.
Synonym: summarise
Audience
The group of people watching or listening.
Example: The audience asked many questions after the talk.
Synonym: listeners
Discuss
To talk about something in detail.
Example: They discussed the new project at the conference.
Synonym: talk over
Panel
A group of people discussing a topic publicly.
Example: The panel answered questions from the audience.
Synonym: group
Keynote
The main or most important speech at an event.
Example: The keynote speaker inspired everyone at the conference.
Synonym: main speech

Tips

  • Always try to sum up your talk in a few clear sentences at the end.
  • Use past simple verbs like 'summed up' when describing completed presentations.
  • Avoid repeating too many details; focus on the main points when you sum up.

Summary

In this lesson, you learned how to use the phrasal verb 'sum up' in the Past Simple tense to summarise presentations at conferences. You also explored useful vocabulary and practiced real-life dialogues to help you communicate effectively in professional settings.

← Back to all lessons