The verb to finish · Conjugation
Past Simple of finish
The answer: finished
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to finish is finished.
Example: I finished my work.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | finished |
| You | finished |
| He / She / It | finished |
| We | finished |
| You (pl.) | finished |
| They | finished |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She finished to read the book ❌
After finish, never use to + verb. Use the -ing form: finish eating, finish working, She finished reading the book.
2. I ended my homework ❌
Finish = to complete something you are doing: I finished my homework. End = to stop, often for events: The film ended at 10.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of finish in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
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Practise on PLAYMaster the Past Simple of finish when you speak, not just on paper
The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
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For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of finish, and you follow each student
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of finish?+
Finished. Finish is a regular verb: I finished my work.
Does finish take -ing?+
Yes. Finish + -ing form: finish eating, finish working. Never finish to eat.
Is it finish or end?+
Finish = to complete an action. End = to stop, at the last moment. I finished my book. The film ended badly.
What does are you finished mean?+
Are you finished? means have you completed it? People ask it politely in a restaurant (before taking your plate) or at work.
What does cross the finish line mean?+
The finish line is the line at the end of a race. Cross the finish line means to arrive at the end of the race.
Related pages: finish Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/finish/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to finish are coming soon.