I finished doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I finished doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you have completed a specific action or task. Example: "I finished doing my homework before dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I just remember seeing Mo getting ready to race just as I finished doing my lap of honour and giving him the thumbs-up.

The Guardian - Sport

When I finished doing it, my budget had a $278 billion surplus.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"When I finish doing whatever it is that I'm doing, and Elaine finishes college, yeah, I'd like to go back," she said.

The New York Times

Beyoncé later told Billboard magazine, "I'm not going to write for the album until I finish doing the movie".

Wikipedia

I just finished doing some James Brown and Parliament vinyl reissues.

Huffington Post

Most recently I've just finished doing Shrek: The Musical, where I played Pinocchio the puppet.

The Guardian

The first time I visited, Lovins had just finished doing some laundry in his front-loaded, energy-saving washing machine.

The New Yorker

One of them says, 'Don't go away, I haven't finished, don't go, don't go,' while the other says, 'Listen!

The New York Times

So why, seconds after this first episode finished, did I want to launch into the next?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Oh, I write songs all the time; actually, I was just finishing doing some yesterday".

The Guardian - Music

"When I finished I did feel an incredible sense of freedom," he says, "the possibility that I could do anything.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I finished doing" to clearly and concisely state the completion of an action, especially when followed by a specific activity. For instance: "I finished doing the laundry before going to bed."

Common error

Be mindful of redundant phrasing. While "I finished doing" is generally correct, avoid using it in contexts where "I finished" alone is sufficient and clearer. For example, instead of saying "I finished doing the task", consider "I finished the task".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I finished doing" functions as a declarative statement indicating the completion of an action or task. The phrase follows the subject-verb-gerund structure, which is commonly found in English. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness of this construct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I finished doing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the completion of an action or task. As Ludwig AI confirms, its straightforward nature makes it appropriate for various contexts, especially in news and media. When using this phrase, be mindful of potential redundancies and consider alternatives like "I completed" for more concise writing. The phrase functions declaratively and maintains a neutral tone, proving its versatility in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I completed doing

Replaces "finished" with "completed", emphasizing a more formal sense of task completion.

I concluded doing

Uses "concluded" instead of "finished", which implies a more deliberate or formal ending.

I was done doing

Employs a more casual and informal tone, using "done" to indicate the end of an activity.

I had finished doing

Adds a past perfect tense, emphasizing that the action was completed before another point in time.

I am finished with doing

Shifts the focus to being finished with something, implying a sense of relief or closure.

I stopped doing

Focuses on the cessation of the activity, rather than its completion.

I ceased doing

Offers a more formal and somewhat archaic way to express stopping an action.

I wrapped up doing

Introduces a colloquial term, "wrapped up", to indicate completion in a relaxed manner.

I put an end to doing

Highlights the act of ending something, possibly implying a more determined or forceful conclusion.

I finalized doing

Implies a final, conclusive action in completing something.

FAQs

What does "I finished doing" mean?

The phrase "I finished doing" means that you have completed a specific task or activity. It's a straightforward way to express completion in various contexts.

What can I say instead of "I finished doing"?

You can use alternatives like "I completed doing", "I was done doing", or "I had finished doing" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is "I finished doing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I finished doing" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows standard sentence structure and is widely understood.

How do I use "I finished doing" in a sentence?

You can use "I finished doing" to describe the completion of an action. For example, "I finished doing my homework", "I finished doing the dishes", or "I finished doing the exercise".