was finished

USAGE SUMMARY

"was finished" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to state that an action, process, or task has been completed. For example: "The project was finished ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

There, he was finished".

The New Yorker

Sokol was finished.

The New York Times

Madrid was finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Odets was finished.

The New Yorker

My swim was finished.

The New Yorker

Her career was finished.

The New York Times

The Thaw was finished.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Trup was finishing up.

Huffington Post

Anything that is finished is finished.

The New Yorker

"MEN are finished".

The Economist

I am finished.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was finished" in the passive voice to emphasize the action's completion rather than the actor. For instance, "The project was finished on time" focuses on the project's completion, not who finished it.

Common error

Avoid using "was finished" when the present perfect "has been finished" is more appropriate to emphasize the continuing relevance of the completion. For example, use "The report has been finished, and the results are now available" instead of "The report was finished."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was finished" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent an action that resulted in its completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

19%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was finished" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive verb phrase that indicates the completion of an action or task. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its prevalence across diverse sources, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki, demonstrates its versatility. While it's important to use the correct tense and consider context, "was finished" remains a reliable way to express completion in both formal and informal settings. When you aim to communicate about the completion of something, "was finished" it's a solid option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concluded

A single-word verb that directly states the end of something.

came to an end

Replaces the verb "finish" with a more general expression indicating the termination of something.

has been completed

Uses the present perfect passive tense to indicate that something is now complete.

reached its conclusion

Emphasizes the completion of a process or event, highlighting the final stage.

is over

States directly that something has ended or concluded.

was brought to a close

A more formal way of saying something ended, often used for events or discussions.

was finalized

Highlights the last step in making something complete and official.

was terminated

Implies a more formal or abrupt ending, often used in official contexts.

wrapped up

An informal way to say something has been completed, often used in project management.

the end

A brief, more direct way to mark the conclusion.

FAQs

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

Use "was finished" in the passive voice to describe the completion of an action or task. For example, "The construction project "was finished" ahead of schedule".

What are some alternatives to "was finished"?

You can use alternatives like "came to an end", "concluded", or "has been completed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was finished" or "is finished"?

"Was finished" is used for past events, while "is finished" describes a current state of completion. For example, "The meal "was finished" an hour ago", versus "The meal "is finished", you can clear the table now".

What's the difference between "was finished" and "had been finished"?

"Was finished" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been finished" indicates a past perfect passive action, meaning it was completed before another point in the past. For example, "The report "was finished" yesterday" vs. "The report "had been finished" before the meeting began".