|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > I īm finished or I īve finished
I īm finished or I īve finished
|
tanja442
|
I īm finished or I īve finished
|
Good morning,
I need your help.
Which one is correct: As soon as a pupil has finished his worksheet, does he say: I īm finished or I īve finished? How do you say in BE? Any other expression used in classroom???? Thanks for your help.
Tanja
|
3 Oct 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
tanja442
|
|
I thought " I am ready" is completely wrong as it means I am ready to do something..... I am prepared to do something.....
|
3 Oct 2013
|
|
|
almaz
|
|
Either is fine. Interestingly, I had to deal with this very issue just the other day when one misguided soul insisted that Iīm finished was non-standard (because "a teacher" had told her so). According to Merriam-Websterīs usage dictionary, however, itīs an "artificial standard" and the construction is perfectly acceptable in speech - and has been found in English literature since the 18th century. Apparently, some people think that when a personal subject is used with this construction, it can only mean "done for".
|
3 Oct 2013
|
|
|
lesleymisano2
|
I would use I īve finished. This is a correct īpresent perfect � construction. (I finished but I do not tell you when)I am finished is a BE + past participle construction : a passive voice construction. This is my state: I am finished (by someone/something) ergo I īm done for.
However, languages are living things and everday usage brings changes which, with time, become acceptable. |
3 Oct 2013
|
|
|
almaz
|
|
And, by the same token...
This is my state: I am finished (with something) ergo I have finished it.
But itīs nice to know that you believe that "everday usage brings changes which, with time, become acceptable". Reminds me of Thomas Carlyleīs response to Margaret Fullerīs statement that she accepted the universe: "Gad! Sheīd better!" Itīs the only reasonable option 
|
3 Oct 2013
|
|
|
