have been finished

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been finished" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been completed in the past. Example: The renovations to the kitchen have been finished - now we can finally start using it again.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It will long since have been finished.

The Guardian - Books

The project was to have been finished in 2009.

The New York Times

At present, two trial greenhouses have been finished.

The New York Times

I think they would have been finished in time.

The New Yorker

His political career might have been finished then and there.

The New York Times

But all my meals could easily have been finished 45 minutes sooner, without rushing.

The New York Times - Food

If the British expeditionary force had been defeated, she would have been finished.

The New Yorker

But only 400 have been finished (another 680 are near completion).

The Economist

This abrupt conclusion has prompted speculation that the book may not have been finished.

The New Yorker

And he said that if Max had not done that, Williams would have been finished.

The New York Times - Sports

It was to have been finished by June this year, but is way behind schedule.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been finished" to indicate that a task, project, or process has reached its end point. Ensure the subject of the sentence clearly identifies what is being completed.

Common error

Avoid using "have been finished" when referring to a future event. It's a past perfect construction, so stick to past or present perfect tenses when describing completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been finished" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has undergone a completed action. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been finished" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice to indicate the completion of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from formal to informal, and is frequently found in news, scientific and business related contents. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in identifying the subject and avoid tense inconsistencies. Consider using alternatives like "have been completed" or "have been finalized" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been completed

Replaces "finished" with "completed", emphasizing the act of bringing something to a conclusion.

have been concluded

Uses "concluded" instead of "finished", suggesting a more formal or definitive ending.

have been finalized

Substitutes "finished" with "finalized", highlighting the last stage of making something complete.

have been accomplished

Employs "accomplished" instead of "finished", stressing the successful completion of a task.

have been executed

Replaces "finished" with "executed", focusing on the performance and completion of a plan or project.

are now complete

Shifts to a present tense construction, emphasizing the current state of completion.

have reached completion

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey that something has arrived at its finished state.

have been brought to a close

Emphasizes the closing or ending of a process or event.

have been terminated

Implies a more abrupt or decisive ending than "finished".

have been settled

Suggests that something has been resolved or decided upon, thus concluding the matter.

FAQs

What does "have been finished" mean?

The phrase "have been finished" indicates that something has reached its final stage and is now complete. It's a past perfect construction often used to describe the completion of tasks, projects, or processes.

What can I say instead of "have been finished"?

You can use alternatives like "have been completed", "have been concluded", or "have been finalized" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the work has been finished already"?

Yes, "the work has been finished already" is grammatically correct. The word "already" emphasizes that the work is complete before a certain time or expectation.

What is the difference between "have been finished" and "are finished"?

"Have been finished" implies a process that has been completed up to the present, whereas "are finished" simply states the current state of completion. For example, "The reports have been finished" emphasizes the action of completing them, while "The reports are finished" emphasizes that they are currently in a completed state.