when I'm done doing for when I finish or have finished

Status
Not open for further replies.

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
1)"When I'm done reading the book, I'm going to call John and ask him if he wants to go the movies.

OR

2)"When I finish/have finished reading the book, I'm going to call John amd ask him if he wants to go to the movies."

Would 1) be more colloquial than 2)?

Would the following sentence make sense in terms of using "being done..."?

"I was close to being done cooking food when they called and said they would like to come over."
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
1)"When I'm done reading the book, I'm going to call John and ask him if he wants to go the movies.

OR

2)"When I finish/have finished reading the book, I'm going to call John amd ask him if he wants to go to the movies."

Would 1) be more colloquial than 2)?

Would the following sentence make sense in terms of using "being done..."?

"I was close to being done cooking food when they called and said they would like to come over."
#1 is wrong in BrE.
In #2 either "when I finish" or "when I have finished" is OK.
I'd be surprised if #1 were to be used in BrE, even colloquially.
 

jlinger

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Canada
I agree. Somehow to me "being done" sounds crude. In fact, there is a rather crude expression "I'd do him" that sounds like he got done. Avoid it.

As for the last "I was close to being done cooking food when they called and said they would like to come over." - first, "food" is redundant; what else would you cook? Either specify (spaghetti, a cake, the roast?) or leave it out. (And if you are going to be specific, you have to look at the verb too, because you don't "cook" any of those foods: you boil, bake or roast them; however, you can "cook" dinner, no matter what you are serving.)

I would say, instead, "I was almost finished cooking when..." Again, avoiding "done."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top