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Thread: Are you finished?' versus 'Have you finished?'

  1. #1
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    Default Are you finished?' versus 'Have you finished?'

    Hi Teachers,
    I've read one of the posts here and I have this question:
    Is 'Have you finished? more polite than 'Are you finished'?
    You usually say 'Are you finished?' when you are more impatient and it can be used with your friends. I think it would be impolite to tell a senior person 'Are you finished?' Sounds more demanding and impolite to me. Is that so? Am I completely wrong?

    Thanks in advance

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    Default Re: Are you finished?' versus 'Have you finished?'

    Quote Originally Posted by learning54 View Post
    Hi Teachers,
    I've read one of the posts here and I have this question:
    Is 'Have you finished? more polite than 'Are you finished'?
    You usually say 'Are you finished?' when you are more impatient and it can be used with your friends. I think it would be impolite to tell a senior person 'Are you finished?' Sounds more demanding and impolite to me. Is that so? Am I completely wrong?

    Thanks in advance
    For me, only "have you finished" is correct.
    emsr2d2 and learning54 like this.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Are you finished?' versus 'Have you finished?'

    Quote Originally Posted by learning54 View Post
    Hi Teachers,
    I've read one of the posts here and I have this question:
    Is 'Have you finished? more polite than 'Are you finished'?
    You usually say 'Are you finished?' when you are more impatient and it can be used with your friends. I think it would be impolite to tell a senior person 'Are you finished?' Sounds more demanding and impolite to me. Is that so? Am I completely wrong?

    Thanks in advance
    I agree with Bhaisahab that "Have you finished?" is the correct term and that can be said both formally and informally.

    I think with either of the phrases, it depends on how you say it. If you approach an older person, or someone who you don't know very well, and who you would generally speak very politely to, it's possible to make the question sound polite simply with your tone of voice or possibly the addition of "Sir" on the end if you are a waiter.

    "Are/Have you finished, Sir?"
    "Yes, thank you."
    "OK, I'll take your plate. Did you enjoy your meal?"
    "Yes, it was delicious, thank you."
    learning54 likes this.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Are you finished?' versus 'Have you finished?'

    Quote Originally Posted by bhaisahab View Post
    For me, only "have you finished" is correct.
    Hi,
    Thank you so much for your answer.

    Best,
    Learning

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Are you finished?' versus 'Have you finished?'

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    I agree with Bhaisahab that "Have you finished?" is the correct term and that can be said both formally and informally.

    I think with either of the phrases, it depends on how you say it. If you approach an older person, or someone who you don't know very well, and who you would generally speak very politely to, it's possible to make the question sound polite simply with your tone of voice or possibly the addition of "Sir" on the end if you are a waiter.

    "Are/Have you finished, Sir?"
    "Yes, thank you."
    "OK, I'll take your plate. Did you enjoy your meal?"
    "Yes, it was delicious, thank you."
    Hi,
    Thank you so much for your reply and examples.

    Best,
    Learning
    Last edited by learning54; 26-Dec-2011 at 11:01.

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