they have completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "They have completed" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you can use it in the following sentence: "They have completed the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have completed the hard part — twice.

The New York Times

Once they have completed their donations, they will die.

The New Yorker

They have completed the dining room and family room.

The New York Times

They have completed a detailed topographic map of the region.

The Guardian

We hypothesized that general surgery residents become more resource efficient after they have completed an ISR.

Journal of Surgical Education

Employees outside London will get a minimum of £7.40 once they have completed initial training.

Independent

But they have completed that work, and they should not be preserved in any form.

The New York Times

Since giving up the ferry terminal, they have completed few important buildings.

The New York Times

Only after they have completed the entry form are runners given the date of the race.

The New York Times - Sports

Meanwhile Schalke say they have completed the transfer of the Serbia defender Matija Nastasic from City.

The Guardian - Sport

Now that they have completed the necessary blood sacrifice of the day, the rituals may commence.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they have completed" when you want to emphasize the action of finishing something, particularly if the completion has a present consequence or relevance.

Common error

Avoid using "they had completed" when the completion is recent and directly relevant to the present. "They have completed" implies a present perfect tense, linking the past action to the current situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they have completed" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates that a group or entity has finished an action at some point in the past, and that this action has relevance to the present. Ludwig provides many examples confirming this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

33%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they have completed" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase in the present perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate a finished action with relevance to the present. It appears frequently in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register. When aiming for alternatives, consider options like "they finished" or "they are done" to convey a similar meaning. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the completion of an action and its current significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they finished

Uses a simpler verb tense, 'finished', to indicate completion.

they are done

Employs a passive construction using 'done' to express completion.

they concluded

Replaces 'completed' with 'concluded', suggesting a formal end.

they achieved

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect of completing something.

they fulfilled

Indicates that a requirement or task has been satisfied.

they executed

Suggests a formal or planned completion of a task or plan.

they finalized

Implies bringing something to its ultimate or finished state.

they wrapped up

Uses a phrasal verb to mean 'finished' in a more casual tone.

they brought to a close

More formal and elaborate way of saying 'they finished'.

they carried out

Emphasis on executing a plan to a successful completion.

FAQs

How can I use "they have completed" in a sentence?

Use "they have completed" to indicate that a group has finished a task or reached a goal. For example, "They have completed the project ahead of schedule".

What are some alternatives to saying "they have completed"?

You can use alternatives such as "they finished", "they are done", or "they concluded" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "they completed" and "they have completed"?

"They completed" refers to a finished action in the past, while "they have completed" links the past action to the present, implying a current relevance or consequence. The second form suggest an accomplishment whose effects are still relevant.

When is it appropriate to use "they have completed" versus "they will have completed"?

"They have completed" is used for actions finished in the past with present relevance, while "they will have completed" refers to actions that will be finished by a specific point in the future.