Finish past tense

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Learn past tenses to communicate in English accurately

Meaning of finish

to bring (something) to an end or to completion; complete.

Infinitive

Word: finish /ˈfɪn.ɪʃ/
Examples:
  • 1. He always finishes his homework before dinner.
  • 2. She finishes her coffee quickly every morning.
  • 3. They usually finish their projects ahead of schedule.

Past Simple

Word: finished /ˈfɪn.ɪʃt/
Examples:
  • 1. She finished her homework before dinner.
  • 2. They finished the marathon despite the heavy rain.
  • 3. He finished reading the book and felt a sense of accomplishment.

Past Participle

Word: finished /ˈfɪnɪʃt/
Examples:
  • 1. The marathon had been finished by all the runners before the heavy rain started.
  • 2. The cake was finished by the children in no time at all.
  • 3. The book had been finished by him by the end of the holiday.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions or Routines. When discussing habits, routines, or actions that happen regularly.
    Example. I finish work at 6 pm every day.
    Example. She finishes every task she starts.
    Example. The school year usually finishes in June.
    Example. The seminar finishes at 3 pm tomorrow.
    Example. To complete the process, first, start the machine, then finish by turning the knob clockwise.
  2. Permanent States. To describe states that are seen as perpetual or facts.
    Example. I finish work at 6 pm every day.
    Example. She finishes every task she starts.
    Example. The school year usually finishes in June.
    Example. The seminar finishes at 3 pm tomorrow.
    Example. To complete the process, first, start the machine, then finish by turning the knob clockwise.
  3. General Truths. For statements that are universally recognized as true.
    Example. I finish work at 6 pm every day.
    Example. She finishes every task she starts.
    Example. The school year usually finishes in June.
    Example. The seminar finishes at 3 pm tomorrow.
    Example. To complete the process, first, start the machine, then finish by turning the knob clockwise.
  4. Scheduled Events (in the near future). In the context of a timetable or scheduled event.
    Example. I finish work at 6 pm every day.
    Example. She finishes every task she starts.
    Example. The school year usually finishes in June.
    Example. The seminar finishes at 3 pm tomorrow.
    Example. To complete the process, first, start the machine, then finish by turning the knob clockwise.
  5. Giving Instructions or Directions. When offering guidance or instructions.
    Example. I finish work at 6 pm every day.
    Example. She finishes every task she starts.
    Example. The school year usually finishes in June.
    Example. The seminar finishes at 3 pm tomorrow.
    Example. To complete the process, first, start the machine, then finish by turning the knob clockwise.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past. When discussing actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
    Example. I finished my homework last night.
    Example. We finished the meeting, went out for lunch, and then returned to the office.
    Example. He finished as the top student of his class in 201
    Example. She asked if I had finished my report.
    Example. When I was a student, I always finished my assignments two days early.
  2. Sequences of Actions. To describe a series of completed actions in the past.
    Example. I finished my homework last night.
    Example. We finished the meeting, went out for lunch, and then returned to the office.
    Example. He finished as the top student of his class in 201
    Example. She asked if I had finished my report.
    Example. When I was a student, I always finished my assignments two days early.
  3. Past States or Situations. Reflecting a state or situation that was true in the past.
    Example. I finished my homework last night.
    Example. We finished the meeting, went out for lunch, and then returned to the office.
    Example. He finished as the top student of his class in 201
    Example. She asked if I had finished my report.
    Example. When I was a student, I always finished my assignments two days early.
  4. Indirect Questions. In reported speech or indirect questions related to past events.
    Example. I finished my homework last night.
    Example. We finished the meeting, went out for lunch, and then returned to the office.
    Example. He finished as the top student of his class in 201
    Example. She asked if I had finished my report.
    Example. When I was a student, I always finished my assignments two days early.
  5. Past Habits. Describing habits or routines in the past that are no longer current.
    Example. I finished my homework last night.
    Example. We finished the meeting, went out for lunch, and then returned to the office.
    Example. He finished as the top student of his class in 201
    Example. She asked if I had finished my report.
    Example. When I was a student, I always finished my assignments two days early.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. I have finished my degree, so now I’m looking for a job.
    Example. By the time she arrived, we had already finished the project.
    Example. By next week, I will have finished all my exams.
    Example. The book was finished by the author in December.
  2. a. Present Perfect. For actions that have been completed at some point in the past but are relevant to the present.
    Example. I have finished my degree, so now I’m looking for a job.
    Example. By the time she arrived, we had already finished the project.
    Example. By next week, I will have finished all my exams.
    Example. The book was finished by the author in December.
  3. b. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action in the past.
    Example. I have finished my degree, so now I’m looking for a job.
    Example. By the time she arrived, we had already finished the project.
    Example. By next week, I will have finished all my exams.
    Example. The book was finished by the author in December.
  4. c. Future Perfect. For actions that will have been completed by a certain future time.
    Example. I have finished my degree, so now I’m looking for a job.
    Example. By the time she arrived, we had already finished the project.
    Example. By next week, I will have finished all my exams.
    Example. The book was finished by the author in December.
  5. Passive Voice. To show that the focus is on the action or the object of the action, rather than who or what is performing the action.
    Example. I have finished my degree, so now I’m looking for a job.
    Example. By the time she arrived, we had already finished the project.
    Example. By next week, I will have finished all my exams.
    Example. The book was finished by the author in December.

Common mistakes

— 01

Misuse of Forms

A common mistake is confusing the past simple form 'finished' with the past participle form, which, in this case, is also 'finished.' This mistake typically occurs in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. For example, incorrectly saying 'I have finish my work' instead of the correct 'I have finished my work.' Similarly, in passive voice, saying 'The project was finish on time' instead of 'The project was finished on time.'

— 02

Omitting Auxiliary Verb

Another mistake involves omitting the auxiliary verb when using the past participle form in perfect tenses. For instance, saying 'I finished my homework yesterday' is correct for past simple, but for the present perfect, incorrectly saying 'I finished my homework' instead of the correct 'I have finished my homework.' This mistake changes the tense and can alter the meaning or temporal focus of the statement.

— 03

Incorrect Forms

While 'finish' is a regular verb where you simply add -ed to form both the past simple and past participle, a common mistake with verbs in general is applying this rule to irregular verbs. For example, treating irregular verbs as regular by adding -ed for their past forms. Though 'finish' correctly becomes 'finished,' learners might incorrectly apply this pattern to an irregular verb like 'go,' saying 'goed' instead of 'went' (past simple) and 'gone' (past participle), showing a misunderstanding of how to correctly form past tenses for different types of verbs.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'finish'?

The past simple form of 'finish' is 'finished.' It is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. For example, 'I finished my homework last night.'

What is the past participle form of 'finish'?

The past participle form of 'finish' is also 'finished.' It is used in perfect tense constructions to describe actions that were completed at some point in the past relative to another time frame. For example, 'I have finished my project.'

How do I use 'finished' in a sentence to indicate a past action?

To indicate a past action, you use 'finished' in the past simple tense. This is appropriate for actions that were completed at a definite time in the past. For instance, 'She finished her dinner before 8 PM.' This sentence clearly shows that the action of finishing dinner occurred at a specific time in the past.

Can you give an example of how 'finished' is used in a sentence as a past participle?

Yes, when using 'finished' as a past participle, it often appears in perfect tense constructions. For example, in the sentence, 'By the time he arrived, we had already finished the game,' 'finished' is used as a past participle. This sentence indicates that the action of finishing the game was completed before another past action (his arrival).