[Grammar] I'm done/I've done - I'm finished/I've finished

[Archie100]

Why native English speakers use passive sentences like: "I'm done, I'm finished" instead of " I've done/I did, I've finished/I finished"?

 

[Tarheel]

Why do native English speakers use passive voice sentences like: "I'm done, I'm finished" instead of " I've done/I did, I've finished/I finished"?

They mean different things. Also, "I'm done" and "I'm finished" can in fact be sentences. ("I did" and "I finished" are also sentences.)

 

[Tarheel]

Please note that "I'm done" and "I'm finished" are not in the passive voice.

 

[Archie100]

Please note that "I'm done" and "I'm finished" are not in the passive voice.

I thought they are something like this: "I'm fired by my boss". They are very similar to passive voice at least to me. ;-)

 

[Tarheel]

You could say:

I was fired by my boss.

(I don't know what the other one means, if anything.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I thought they [STRIKE]are[/STRIKE] were something like this: "[strike]I'm[/strike] I was/I have been fired by my boss". They are very similar to the passive voice, at least to me. ;-)

Here's a fun little way to check if something is in the passive. Ask yourself "Can I add "by zombies" after it to make a grammatical sentence?"

I was shot.
Can I say "I was shot by zombies"? Yes, I can, so it's passive.

Their aunt was sold rotten fish.
Can I say "Their aunt was sold rotten fish by zombies"? Yes, I can, so it's passive.

I'm done.
Can I say "I'm done by zombies"? No, that doesn't make sense so "I'm done" isn't passive.

 

[Archie100]

Here's a fun little way to check if something is in the passive. Ask yourself "Can I add "by zombies" after it to make a grammatical sentence?"

I was shot.
Can I say "I was shot by zombies"? Yes, I can, so it's passive.

Their aunt was sold rotten fish.
Can I say "Their aunt was sold rotten fish by zombies"? Yes, I can, so it's passive.

I'm done.
Can I say "I'm done by zombies"? No, that doesn't make sense so "I'm done" isn't passive.

Ok then, so which one tense "I'm done" and "I'm finished" are they?

 

[5jj]

I'd say we have the present tense of BE followed by the adjective done or finished.

 

[emsr2d2]

When you see a form of the verb "be" followed by a word that could be a verb, you need to check to see if that verb is in the continuous. If it is, then it's a verb.

I'm doing it. (Continuous, therefore it's a verb)
She's shaking ... (continuous, therefore it's a verb)
They're burning ... (continuous, therefore it's a verb)

I'm done. (Not continuous, so not a verb. It's an adjective.)
She's shaken. (Not continuous, no it's not a verb.)
They're burnt/burned. (Not continuous, so it's not a verb.)

 

[Tarheel]

What tense are "I'm done" and "I'm finished"?

OK.

 

[Tarheel]

I had forgotten the thing about the zombies, or I might have mentioned it myself. (I have forgotten quite a bit.)

I recently was napping and was awoken by zombies knocking on my door. (I didn't let them in.)
;-)

 

[Archie100]

This zombie thing, were you taught this in the school?;-)

 

[emsr2d2]

This zombie thing, were you taught this in the school?;-)

No. We didn't do grammar at school (most British schools don't teach grammar!) I don't remember where/who I got it from.

 

[Glizdka]

I like your idea of "Is it a verb?", emsr2d2. I used to have sleepless nights because of "The world's population is growing". It doesn't look like the present continuous to me. I'm not sure if it's just a present participle adjective added to the main verb be. What can you say about this construction?

 

[Tarheel]

This zombie thing -- were you taught it in school?

When I was going to school zombies used to help me study. But when I told them I didn't believe in zombies they got mad at me and wouldn't help me anymore.
;-)

 

[Archie100]

When I was going to school zombies used to help me study. But when I told them I didn't believe in zombies they got mad at me and wouldn't help me anymore.
;-)

How could you? Don't you think they have feelings too?

 

[emsr2d2]

I like your idea of "Is it a verb?", emsr2d2. I used to have sleepless nights because of "The world's population is growing". It doesn't look like the present continuous to me. I'm not sure if it's just a present participle adjective added to the main verb be. What can you say about this construction?

It's the present continuous.