[Grammar] why improvements are complete not improvements are completed or improvements complete

[etc128]

Hi Teachers,

I have come across this phrase "When all our MRT improvements are complete, people and places will be connected in harmony."

My question is why "improvements are complete" but not "improvements are completed" or "improvements complete"?

Please advise.

Best regards.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Are completed" is possible. "... all our improvements complete" is not possible.

 

[etc128]

Thank you emsr2d2,

If "are completed" is possible, then does it mean that "improvements are complete" is wrong?

Could you please advise.

Best regards.

 

[Rover_KE]

Both 'improvements are complete' and 'improvements are completed' are correct.

In English we often have the option of saying the same thing in slightly different ways.

 

[etc128]

Thank you Rover_KE,

Does that means to say in "improvements are complete" the complete is an adjectives, while in "improvements are completed" the completed is a verb?

So how do we differentiate when to use which?

Please advise.

Best regards.

 

[bhaisahab]

They are both adjectives.

 

[MikeNewYork]

With "are complete", complete is a predicate adjective. With "are completed", "are completed" is the passive voice verb. It could also be argued that "completed" is the past participle, acting as an adjective.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Etc.:

May I share some information that has greatly helped me?

Mr. Roger Woodham of the British Broadcasting Corporation World Service says this:


Note ... that "complete" as an adjective with the slightly different meaning of "whole" or "entire" is more frequently used than "completed" as an adjective, meaning "finished."

He then gives this example: No house is complete [whole] without carpets on the floors and pictures on the walls.


*****

If you accept Mr. Woodham's opinion (and I do), then maybe SOME people might prefer "completed" in your sentence:

"When all our MRT improvements are completed [finished], people and places will [then] be connected in harmony."



James

 

[etc128]

Thank you so much guys:-D

 

[Rover_KE]

There is no need to write a new post to say Thank you, etc128. Your clicks the Thank button on any posts you find helpful are sufficient. It means that we don't have to open the thread again to read your new post and then find that it doesn't include any new information or an additional question. It saves everybody's time.