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ESL forum > Message board > I ´m finished or I ´ve finished?    

I ´m finished or I ´ve finished?



aura+
Portugal

I ´m finished or I ´ve finished?
 

When a student finishes his work, should he say ´I ´m finished � or ´I ´ve finished �?

thanks

Aura

8 Oct 2009      





Samantha.esl
Italy

The correct way should be I ´ve finished, using present perfect.

I ´m finished sounds rather funny to me..:)


8 Oct 2009     



veraviana
Portugal

Hi! Well, as far as I know that has to do with British and American English. ´I ´m finished � is something Americans would say and as we, Portuguese teachers, are supposed to teach British English, we should explain that to our students and make them use ´I ´ve finished � in class. However, we cannot say ´I ´m finished � is wrong, specially because they constantly hear that expression in films; we just say that there are many ´Englishes � nowadays. ^__^

8 Oct 2009     



Zora
Canada

Both are correct.

I am finished - as in "I am finished my work."

or

I have finished - as in "I ´ve finished the worksheet."




8 Oct 2009     



aura+
Portugal

thanks!

8 Oct 2009     



Zora
Canada

By the way... "finished" in "I am finished" is being used as an adjective and not as a participle. It ´s not just an "American" saying. It is quite correct to say "I am finished."

Look up finish in a dictionary to see what I mean.

adj finished
1 ended Her chances of success are finished.
2 (negativeunfinished) done; completed a finished product.
3 having been completely used, eaten etc The food is finished � there ´s none left.


8 Oct 2009