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have you finished/are you finished?

  • 05-09-2014 11:42AM
    #1
    diveout
    Closed Accounts Posts: 746 ✭✭✭


    What is the difference between using HAVE YOU FINISHED and ARE YOU FINISHED?

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    P. Breathnach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    I think that "have you finished?" is more colloquial on the eastern side of the Atlantic, and "are you finished? is more used on the other side.

    They might also nuance differently: "have you finished?" might indicate an interest in the state of the task; "are you finished?" might be more focused on the person undertaking the task.


  • #3
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,210 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    In most cases they would amount to the same thing but in some situations they're quite different.

    If a scandal was about to surface which would end your career, you might lament "I'm finished."

    "Have you finished any books lately?" although a little contrived, would sound even stranger with 'are'.


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