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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:45 am Post subject: finish |
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| Quote: |
A: We only have one more worksheet to finish.
B: After that, we'll finally be finished preparing for this exam. |
I think 'B' is not correct. I think 'B' must be corrected as 'After that, we'll finally be finished by preparing for this exam.'. But I'm not sure.
Can you teach me?
Thanks.
Last edited by Chan-Seung Lee on Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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asterix
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 1654
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| Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: |
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A. and B. are both correct.
If you write, we will be finished by something, it means you will be completely beaten by something or someone, or in a worst case scenario you will be killed by something or someone. |
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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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| Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject: still question |
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Thanks for your kind reply.
I still have a question about 'be finished doing something'.
According to my English dictionary, 'finish doing something' is said to be a kind of usage of 'finish'. So I think 'be finished doing something' is wrong because 'finish doing something' is right.
Therefore, 'After that, we'll finally be finished preparing for this exam.' may be wrong, and instead 'After that, we'll finally finish preparing for this exam.' is correct.
What do you think of my opinion? Can you let me know the truth?
Thanks. |
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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:08 am Post subject: waiting for |
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| I'm waiting for an answer for my question. |
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:15 am Post subject: Re: still question |
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| Chan-Seung Lee wrote: |
Thanks for your kind reply.
I still have a question about 'be finished doing something'.
According to my English dictionary, 'finish doing something' is said to be a kind of usage of 'finish'. So I think 'be finished doing something' is wrong because 'finish doing something' is right.
Therefore, 'After that, we'll finally be finished preparing for this exam.' may be wrong, and instead 'After that, we'll finally finish preparing for this exam.' is correct.
What do you think of my opinion? Can you let me know the truth?
Thanks. |
"After that, we'll finally be finished preparing for this exam." means that there will be nothing left to do to prepare for it, after "that" is completed.
"After that, we'll finally finish preparing for this exam." means that we will first do "that" (eat dinner? answer e-mail? go shopping?) and then following the completion of "that", we will get to work preparing for the exam because we still have something left to do. |
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asterix
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 1654
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| Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:19 am Post subject: |
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Chan-Seung Lee, you may well be waiting for a reply to your question, but it would be prudent to remember that we may be in different time zones. When you are going to bed, I may be having lunch.
Let me assure you that, After that, we'll finally be finished preparing for this exam. is correct English.
| Quote: |
So I think 'be finished doing something' is wrong because 'finish doing something' is right.
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But you have failed to say on what grounds you make this assumption.
In fact, either may be correct and either may be wrong. It depends on what sense of time you wish to convey, and also the context.
If you have finished doing something then you have completed an action in the past.
If you will finish something you have an action that will be completed in the futuure.
If you will be finished doing something you have an ongoing action that will be finished in the future.
For example. |
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