He's finished eating VERSUS he's finishes eating

[Goran]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #57 "Chit Chat: At the pub", question 6

Deborah: Oh yes. He's very good. At home when he's ......... eating, he goes into the kitchen and washes up his plates.

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

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #57 "Chit Chat: At the pub", answer 6

Deborah: Oh yes. He's very good. At home when he's finished eating, he goes into the kitchen and washes up his plates.

Correct answer: (a) finished

Your answer was: incorrect
Deborah: Oh yes. He's very good. At home when he's finishes eating, he goes into the kitchen and washes up his plates.
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Why answer is "finished" and not "finishes"?

Goran

[Yankee]

Hi Goran

You can say either "when he finishes eating" or "when he is finished eating".

'Finishes' is the simple present tense of the verb finish.

'Is finished' consists of the simple present tense of the verb be and the word finished (an adjective).
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

Can't fault the explanation but as a matter of fact when I wrote that, I had in mind: When he has finished eating.

What a language!

A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Read all about it

[Yankee]

Hi Alan

Aha! Well, you know we Americans tend to go for the simple tenses before considering the present perfect.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English