finished drinking

USAGE SUMMARY

"finished drinking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are referring to someone who has completed drinking something (usually a beverage). For example: He had finished drinking his cup of tea before the timer went off.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

As in many studies of alcohol use, the EMA protocol involved the reporting of a "drinking episode"—that is, the participants initiated the report when they began drinking and then could "close" the report when they were finished drinking, including a report of the number of drinks they had consumed during the episode.

Alcohol research : current reviews

I've arranged everything!" Vitaly shouted once he'd finished drinking.

The New Yorker

When he finished drinking it, he got out a pack of cigarettes and started to smoke.

The New Yorker

As Maya finished drinking, her nose began to run and she vomited.

The New Yorker

Once you finished drinking, the tab snapped back into place to prevent spills.

The New York Times - Magazine

In those days I finished drinking at about the time today that I start.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

We had access to finished drinking-water concentration data for other herbicides collected from a small subset of the samples used in this study.

Environmental Health Perspectives

"Once you finish drinking it, you're not going to carry it around all day.

The New York Times

The critics say there ought to be Border Patrol agents stationed near the water stations to arrest those who are crossing illegally as soon as they finish drinking.

The New York Times

On the odd occasion that the dishwasher door is opened mid-cycle, it's probably your partner retrieving his mug to finish drinking the tea you whisked off halfway through him drinking it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A Moon for the Misbegotten is an oblique follow-up, less a sequel than a postscript; it is 11 years later and Jamie Tyrone is about to finish drinking himself to death.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sequence of actions, use "finished drinking" to clearly indicate the completion of the drinking action before moving on to the next action.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "finished drinking". Ensure the tense aligns with the context of the sentence, for instance, using "had finished drinking" for past perfect scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finished drinking" functions as a verb phrase indicating the completion of the act of consuming a beverage. This is evident in various examples provided by Ludwig, where it describes the conclusion of a drinking episode or a specific instance of drinking.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "finished drinking" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate the completion of consuming a beverage. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely accepted in both formal and informal contexts. Its versatility is reflected in its usage across various sources, including news, science, and general media. While more formal alternatives like "completed drinking" exist, "finished drinking" remains a practical and universally understood way to describe the end of a drinking action. Remember to maintain consistent tense usage to avoid common grammatical errors and utilize this phrase to add clarity to the sequence of events in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed drinking

Highlights the action of finishing the drinking activity.

stopped drinking

Focuses on the cessation of drinking.

done drinking

A more informal way to express the completion of drinking.

through drinking

Implies having completed the process of drinking.

ceased drinking

A more formal way of saying stopped drinking.

quenched thirst

Focuses on the result of drinking, satisfying thirst.

had a drink

More general, but suggests the action of drinking is over.

imbibed fully

Implies having drunk the entirety of something.

consumed the beverage

A formal way to describe the completed act of drinking.

emptied the glass

Highlights the act of making the glass empty by drinking.

FAQs

How to use "finished drinking" in a sentence?

You can use "finished drinking" to describe the completion of the action of drinking, such as "After he "finished drinking" his coffee, he left for work."

What can I say instead of "finished drinking"?

Alternatives to "finished drinking" include "completed drinking", "stopped drinking", or "done drinking", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am finished drinking"?

While understandable, "I have finished drinking" is grammatically more precise and commonly used. "I am finished drinking" is acceptable in informal contexts but less preferred in formal writing.

What's the difference between "finished drinking" and "done drinking"?

"Done drinking" is more informal than ""finished drinking"". Both indicate the completion of the action, but "finished" carries a slightly more formal tone.