be finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a passive form of the verb "finish" and is often used to describe a state of completion or readiness. Example: "The project will be finished by tomorrow." This means that the project will reach its completion or be ready by tomorrow.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Dan may be finished".

The New Yorker

Let it be finished".

The New York Times

I'll soon be finished.

The New York Times - Books

He will be finished.

The Guardian

"By Thursday, it will be finished.

The New York Times

It will be finished in 1963.

The New Yorker

When will the killing be finished?

The New York Times - Books

It should be finished by July.

The New York Times

They should be finished in 4 months.

The New Yorker

Nor would the transatlantic alliance be finished.

The Economist

"And then it will be finished".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be finished" to indicate a state of completion, especially when the agent performing the action is not the primary focus. For example, "The report will be finished by Friday."

Common error

Avoid using "be finished" when an active voice construction is more direct and clear. Instead of "The project is being finished by the team", consider "The team is finishing the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be finished" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that an action has been completed. It is used to describe a state of completion rather than the act of finishing itself. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be finished" is a grammatically correct and highly versatile passive verb phrase used to indicate completion across diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the examples demonstrate its prevalence in news, scientific, formal, and informal writing. While alternatives like "be completed" or "be done" exist, "be finished" provides a clear and adaptable way to express that something has reached its end. Pay attention to context to ensure the passive voice is the most effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be completed

This alternative emphasizes the act of bringing something to a state of completion.

be done

This alternative is a more concise and informal way of expressing completion.

be concluded

This alternative suggests a more formal and definitive end.

be terminated

This alternative implies a more abrupt or official ending.

be finalized

This alternative highlights the act of making something final and ready.

reach completion

This alternative focuses on the process of achieving completion.

come to an end

This alternative emphasizes the cessation of something.

draw to a close

This alternative suggests a gradual ending.

be brought to a close

This alternative suggests a passive and formal ending.

be wrapped up

This alternative suggests a neat and tidy ending.

FAQs

How can I use "be finished" in a sentence?

The phrase "be finished" indicates that something has been completed. For example, "The work will "be finished" by tomorrow" means the work will be completed by then.

What are some alternatives to "be finished"?

You can use alternatives like "be completed", "be done", or "be concluded" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be finished" or "being finished"?

"Be finished" is generally used to describe a state of completion, while "being finished" describes an ongoing process of completion. For example, "The task will be finished soon" versus "The task is being finished right now".

What's the difference between "be finished" and "finish"?

"Finish" is an active verb meaning to complete something, whereas ""be finished"" is a passive construction indicating that something is in a completed state.