Finished with each other

[clara]

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", question 10

To most people it seemed like a long and successful relationship and so it was a great surprise to learn that they had ......... with each other.

(a) ends
(b) ended
(c) finishes
(d) finished

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", answer 10

To most people it seemed like a long and successful relationship and so it was a great surprise to learn that they had finished with each other.

Correct answer: (d) finished

Your answer was: incorrect
To most people it seemed like a long and successful relationship and so it was a great surprise to learn that they had ended with each other.
_________________________

why we used finished instead of ended?

clara

[Alan]

You need finished with here as this means that they no longer see each other. If you use ended then you would have to have an object as in: They have ended their relationship.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Make or Do?

[sedigheh]

i got 6 out of 10 scores in the lesson but i failed to understand the exact difference in end/finished

[zhasan]

I got 7 out of 10. After checking the explanation I think I undrestood their differences but I am not sure wether I will make mistakes in the other phrases or not.

[Nico]

I got 7 out of 10 but I'm not sure if I understood the differents between finish and end!!!
Can you give me more information about finish and end?
Thanks, Nico

[div]

I scored 9 out of 10.Im not very sure about the differences between ended and finished in the last question

[Ripples]

I scored 5 questions out of 10. I already checked those explanations, but still get confuse about the diferences between finish and end.

[Mister Micawber]

.
"Finish" and "end" have similar meanings, and are often interchangeable. There are some differences, though. According to Michael Swan:

"1. 'finish' + object: When we talk about getting to the end of something or completing an activity, we usually prefer 'finish'.
He never lets me finish a sentence.
She's always starting something new, but she never finishes anything.
You'll never finish that hamburger – it's too big for you.
Have you finished cleaning the floor yet?
Note that 'finish' can be followed by an –ing form [but 'end' is not followed by an –ing form].

2. 'end' + object: When we talk about stopping or breaking something off, we usually prefer 'end.:
I decided it was time to end our affair
It's time to end the uncertainty – the Prime Minister must speak out.
'End' cannot be followed by an –ing form:
I decided to stop seeing here (NOT …to end seeing her.)

3. 'end' + object = 'bring to a close'
When we are talking about a special way of bringing something to a close of 'shaping the end of something, we usually prefer 'end'
How do you end a letter to somebody you don't know?
She ended her concert with three songs by Schubert.
My father ended his days (=died) in a mental hospital.

4. shape
When we are referring to the shape of things, rather than to time, we normally use 'end.'
The road ended in a building site (NOT The road finished…)
Nouns that end in –s have plurals in –es…."

5. changes End is more common when there is an important change.

I decided it was time to end our affair.
It’s time to end the uncertainty – the Prime Minister must speak out.
The Second World War ended in 1945….
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Ripples]

To Mister Micawber,

Thanks for your explain, now I get more understand on this.Thanks a lot.

[Cimarro]

Hi,dear Mr.Dearr!
I`m so sory I`m late by doing multiple choise test 4 but I was very busy.In the first time it was difficult for me to understand the difference between verbs 'end' and 'finish'.When I was doind the test I read explanation of some of the sentences.Then I understood what is the difference.When I did the test at first time,I received 8 score.After that I decided to repeat the test and I received maximum score.I`ll be so happy if you edit my message.It will be very helpful for me.Many thanks for everything you did for me ,dear teacher!

I`ll write you soon again.
Best regards,Peter.

[Torsten]

Dear Peter,

Many thanks for taking the test and sharing your results with us. I'm very glad that you took the test two times because it is important for you to answer all of the questions correctly. As for your editing your message, please read How can I improve my writing skills? and let me know what you think.

Best regards,
Torsten Daerr
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[malak]

Dear Torsten,

I took the test and my score was 9 of 10, my mistake was in question number 8; i thought the sentence was in present not in past, and I'm still confused.

again, thank you and the whole team for this site, it is very helpful.

Best Regards,

Malak Taha