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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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was already finished

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'was already finished' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something had already happened or been completed before a certain time. For example: The work was already finished when I arrived, so I didn't have anything to do.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The dam was already finished".

News & Media

The New Yorker

By the time we got back to the Communion celebrations the buffet was already finished!

Playing a group ahead of Toms, Garcia was already finished regulation at 18 under par while Toms still had the final hole to play.

He said he believed that the damage to the fuel at Reactor No. 1 was already finished, and that even if some fuel rods were still standing — and therefore exposed — they were no longer hot enough to keep melting.

News & Media

The New York Times

That way, said Lotta Sandberg, 47, a supervisor of public preschools, "we could be a part of designing exactly what we wanted — that was more attractive to us than buying something that was already finished".

News & Media

The New York Times

Whereas Made in Chelsea was already finished when it started transmission, the Essex cast are able to see themselves on television as each episode is shot, edited and broadcast within a three-day period.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Seven are already finished.

News & Media

The New York Times

His calculations were already finished.

News & Media

The Guardian

"This one is already finished," Pasternak said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The first part about the special theory is already finished.

The new, fancy Web site is already finished.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was already finished" to clearly indicate that an action or process was completed before a specific point in time, providing context for subsequent events or decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "was already finished" when a simpler past perfect tense (had finished) is more appropriate, especially when emphasizing the sequence of events. For example, instead of "The presentation was already finished when the CEO arrived", consider "The presentation had finished when the CEO arrived".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was already finished" functions as a past passive construction, indicating that an action or process had been completed before a specific point in time. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was already finished" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that signifies the completion of an action or process prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in a variety of contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, but also present in Wiki and Scientific domains, the phrase serves to provide temporal context and often explains subsequent events. Alternatives such as "had already concluded" or "was completed beforehand" offer slight nuances in emphasis. When writing, be mindful of tense consistency and choose the past perfect tense when emphasizing the sequence of past actions.

FAQs

How can I use "was already finished" in a sentence?

You can use "was already finished" to indicate that an action or task had been completed before a certain time. For example: "The construction "was already finished" when the new residents moved in."

What phrases are similar to "was already finished"?

Similar phrases include "had already concluded", "was completed beforehand", or "had been finalized", depending on the specific context.

When is it better to use "had finished" instead of "was already finished"?

Use "had finished" (past perfect) to emphasize the sequence of two past actions, where one action completed before the other. "Was already finished" is suitable when focusing on the state of completion at a specific past time.

What's the difference between "was already finished" and "is already finished"?

"Was already finished" refers to a completed action in the past, while "is already finished" refers to a completed action in the present. For example, "The report "was already finished" yesterday" versus "The report "is already finished" now".

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: