have just finished

USAGE SUMMARY

"have just finished" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was completed very recently, usually in the present tense. Example: I have just finished my homework and I am ready to watch a movie. In this example, the speaker is stating that they have completed their homework only moments ago. Another example: She has just finished her presentation and it was well received by the audience. In this example, the speaker is indicating that the presentation was completed very recently and is using "just" to emphasize the immediacy of the action. You can use "have just finished" in various contexts and tenses, such as: - Present perfect: I have just finished cooking dinner. - Past perfect: They had just finished their meal when the power went out. - Future perfect: By the time you arrive, we will have just finished our meeting. Overall, "have just finished" is a useful phrase to express recent completion of an activity and is appropriate to use in both written and spoken English.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Classes have just finished.

Independent

The anthems have just finished in Kingston.

The New York Times

Our snowdrops have just finished blooming.

The New York Times - Arts

only to discover they have just finished.

The Guardian - Music

And I have just finished reading it.

The Guardian

I have just finished my "Catherine the Great".

The New York Times - Books

We have just finished a long and bruising political campaign.

The Washington Post

■ The Conservatives have just finished their conference: in Birmingham.

The Guardian

The brothers have just finished designing Beth Arrowood's apartment.

The New York Times

"Me and Emma [Byrne] have just finished our journalism degrees".

The Guardian - Sport

I think they have just finished the first round.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the recency, consider using adverbs like "only" to reinforce the immediacy of the completion: 'I have only just finished'.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense (finished) when you want to emphasize the recent completion of an action. "I finished" simply states the action is complete, while "I have just finished" highlights its recency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have just finished" primarily functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates the recent completion of an action. Ludwig confirms that it's a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have just finished" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate the recent completion of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for both written and spoken English, especially when emphasizing immediacy. Predominantly found in news media and academic contexts, this phrase serves to provide context and clarity about the timing of events. For alternative expressions, consider using "have recently completed" or "have only just finished" to convey similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have recently completed

Replaces "just finished" with "recently completed", emphasizing the recency of completion using a different adverb.

have only just finished

Adds "only" for extra emphasis on how recently the action was completed.

have barely finished

Indicates that the action was completed with little time to spare.

have newly finished

Uses "newly" instead of "just", giving a slightly different nuance to the recency.

have immediately finished

Replaces "just" with "immediately", indicating the action was completed without delay.

have freshly finished

Uses "freshly" to convey that the action has been very recently completed, emphasizing the newness.

have this moment finished

Expresses a more emphatic sense of immediacy using "this moment".

have lately finished

Employs "lately" instead of "just", conveying recent completion with a slightly different tone.

have just wrapped up

Uses the phrasal verb "wrapped up" instead of "finished", providing a more informal alternative.

have concluded recently

Replaces "finished" with "concluded", giving a more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "have just finished" in a sentence?

Use "have just finished" to indicate that an action has been completed very recently. For example, "I "have just finished" my work, so I'm free to go out".

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

You can use alternatives like "have recently completed", "have only just finished", or "have barely finished" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I just finished" instead of "I have just finished"?

While "I just finished" is commonly used in informal settings, "I "have just finished"" is grammatically more precise and suitable for formal writing. The former uses the simple past, while the latter uses the present perfect to emphasize recency.

What's the difference between "have just finished" and "had just finished"?

"Have just finished" refers to an action completed recently in relation to the present. "Had just finished" refers to an action completed recently in relation to a past event. For example, "I "have just finished" eating," versus "I had just finished eating when the phone rang".