are not finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is incomplete or has not yet been completed. Example: "The reports are not finished, so we will need to extend the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They are not finished yet.

The New York Times - Sports

His studies are not finished.

The New York Times - Magazine

And they are not finished.

The New York Times

"But they are not finished".

The Guardian

"I know we are not finished yet".

The New York Times

The Bergmans are not finished yet.

The New York Times - Arts

We are not finished the season.

The Guardian - Sport

The Swiss are not finished, either.

The New York Times

And we are not finished yet".

The New York Times - Sports

"The threats facing France are not finished," Hollande said.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We started with shopping, but we are not finished making email useful again".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not finished" to indicate that a task, project, or process is currently incomplete but expected to be completed in the future. It works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "are not finished" when a passive construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The cake are not finished by her", say "The cake was not finished by her".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not finished" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating that an action, task, or state is incomplete at the present time. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that this phrase commonly describes projects, reports, studies, or negotiations that have not yet reached their conclusion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Sport

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are not finished" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verbal phrase that communicates the incomplete state of a task, project, or process. As shown by Ludwig, it is versatile and suitable for various contexts, from news reporting to academic discussions. While synonyms like ""are incomplete"" or ""remain unfinished"" can be used, "are not finished" maintains a neutral tone and is widely understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are incomplete

Focuses directly on the state of being unfinished; lacks the sense of ongoing action.

are not complete

Similar to "are incomplete", but can apply to processes as well as things.

remain unfinished

More formal and emphasizes the continuation of the state of being unfinished.

are still in progress

Highlights the ongoing nature of the activity.

are ongoing

Broader term indicating continuation, but less specific about the lack of completion.

are not yet done

More informal and colloquial.

are yet to be completed

Formal and emphasizes future completion.

are under construction

Applies to physical structures or projects, indicating active building or development.

are in the works

Informal and suggests something is being developed or planned.

are a work in progress

Emphasizes the developmental stage and potential for improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "are not finished" in a sentence?

You can use "are not finished" to indicate that something is currently incomplete. For example, "The reports "are not finished", so the deadline will be extended".

What are some alternatives to "are not finished"?

Alternatives include "are incomplete", "are still in progress", or "remain unfinished" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is not finished" instead of "are not finished"?

No, the verb form depends on the subject. Use "is not finished" with singular subjects (e.g., "The report is not finished") and "are not finished" with plural subjects (e.g., "The reports are not finished").

What's the difference between "are not finished" and "are unfinished"?

"Are not finished" implies a process that's still ongoing, while "are unfinished" simply states the state of incompletion. For instance, "The renovations "are not finished"" suggests work is still being done, whereas "The renovations "are unfinished"" just means they're not complete.