Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / July 2006

"Are you finished eating" is correct "Have you finished eating" is also
correct and they are mostly interchangeable.

1. (to) finish = present tense
2. (had) finished = past tense
3. (am) finishing = present participle

"Are" works with:
1  Are you to finish (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something to take place in the future)

2. Are you finished (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something taking place now or in the past (imperfect tense, I
believe))

3. Are you finishing (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something taking place now or in the future)

1. (to) have = present tense
2. (have) had= past tense
3. (am) having = present participle

"Have" works with:
1  Have you to finish (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something to take place in the future)

2a. Had you to finish (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something taking place and completed in the past (perfect
past tense, I believe))

2. Have you finished (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something taking place now or in the past (imperfect past
tense, I believe))

2a. Had you finished (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something taking place and completed in the past (perfect
past tense, I believe))

"Do you finished eating" is not correct.

1. do (does = third person singular) = these are both some type of present
tense
2. did = past tense
3. doing = present participle

"Do" works with:
1  Do you finish (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(this is a general inquiry about something to take place possibly more than
once or repeatedly)

2. Did you finish (doing something in the present progressive tense)?
(inquiry about something taking place now or in the past (perfect past
tense, I believe))

To say the finishing is occurring now, one must use "is."  Example: "He is
finishing eating now." or "Are you finishing eating now?"

Maybe someone else can provide more detail than my answer.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Dan

Characteristic American English usage.

No, no, nopity no.

Fine, Present perfect - the plate is still in front of the person
eating, standard in both BrE and Ame.

because your book is for TOEIC (US) not IELTS (Rest of the
English-speaking world).

You're alright.

DC

"Do you finished eating? -- Incorrect
Did you finish eating?  -- Correct