we’re actually done camping

[Maybo]

I heard someone say “I won’t come back until we’re actually done camping”.

Why did he use this tense “we’re done camping”?
Why didn’t he say “we have done camping”?

 

[Barque]

We don't have context but "we're done [activity]" and "we have done [activity]" don't mean the same thing.

"We're done [something]" means "We have finished doing something (for now)". It's a little informal.
We're done cooking = We have finished cooking [the meal].

"We have done [something]" means "We have taken part in [something]".

Why didn’t he say “we have done camping”?

This sentence would only work if you were describing your experiences in the past. We have done trekking, camping, white-water rafting and elephant-washing.

I heard someone say “I won’t come back until we’re actually done camping”.

It still seems a slightly odd sentence. Camping doesn't have a particular ending point, unlike cooking a meal. You'll be done camping whenever you decide you don't feel like camping any more.

 

[Maybo]

The speaker found it cold at the campsite so he went back home to take some blankets and said that. Then he went back to the campsite.

 

[Barque]

I see. Then I suppose they'd decided they'd stay in camp for a certain period of time, and he meant he wouldn't come back again until after that.

 

[Maybo]

When we use “we are done something”, is it usually using with a gerund?
For example: we are done painting. We are done washing the car.

Do we say “ we are done painting classes”?

 

[Tarheel]

The speaker found it cold at the campsite so he went back home to GET some blankets and said that. Then he went back to the campsite.

Ah! For whatever reason he wanted to do it for a couple more days.

 

[Tarheel]

When we use “we are done something”, is it usually using with a gerund?
For example: we are done painting. We are done washing the car.

Do we say “ we are done painting classes”?

I don't understand the last one. For the first two, you were doing something, and now you are finished. However, what "painting classes" are I do not know. Art classes?

 

[jutfrank]

Do we say “ we are done painting classes”?

No, that's wrong because painting classes is a noun. The -ing word must be an action verb. If you want to use a noun, you need with:

I'm done painting. (present participle verb)
I'm done with the painting. (gerund noun)

 

[Tarheel]

As usual, Jutfrank is smarter than I am. He knew exactly what you meant.