Difference between finished and ended

[Jenny]

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", question 4

Sadly their marriage of 25 years ......... in divorce.

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

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", answer 4

Sadly their marriage of 25 years ended in divorce.

Correct answer: (b) ended

Your answer was: incorrect
Sadly their marriage of 25 years finished in divorce.
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I don`t know what`s the difference

[Alan]

This is a difficult one! Here you need ended to show that the marriage stopped and so ceased to exist.as in: The second world war ended in 1945. Finished gives the idea of completion and therefore not continuing because you don't expect it to as in: The concert finished at 10 o'clock. Hope this helps.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/hold

[evren]

Dear Alan,
I think you must write an article about the difference between finish and end. Your article about begin and start was very helpful for me. This site is great and I'm happy about studying with you.Thanks.

[hani]

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", question 4

Sadly their marriage of 25 years ......... in divorce.

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

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", answer 4

correct sentence:
Sadly their marriage of 25 years ended in divorce.

Correct answer: (b) ended

Your answer was: incorrect
your sentence:
Sadly their marriage of 25 years ends in divorce.

[Kk]

There marriage of 25 years ________in divorce.

[Kk]

dear Alan,
can u plz tell me why it is ended in the sentence and not ends.
sadly their marriage after 25 years ______in divorce[/u]

[Alan]

Hi Kk,

The past tense 'ended' is used to show that this happened in the past.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Briefly