Tag: collocation

TO END vs TO FINISH – Collocations in English

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To_end_vs_to_finishBased on: McCarthy, M. O’Dell, F. (2008), Collocations in use, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

TO END

  • To stop with a clear conclusion. We use it when there’s an important change.
    Example: World War II ended in 1945.
  • END can’t be followed by either the infinitive (to- form) or the -ing form.
    Example: Mark ended drying his hair. => This sentence isn’t correct!
    The correct sentence is: Mark finished drying his hair.

TO FINISH

  • To bring something to an end.
    Example: Are you sure you’ll finish your essay by Monday?
  • To eat, drink the last of something.
    Example: I’m sorry, I just finished the coffee.
  • It can be followed by the -ing form, but not by the infinitive.
    Example: They have finished to play. => This sentence is not correct!
    The correct sentence is: They have finished playing.

GET or BECOME?

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GET_OR_BECOME_WEBSITEBased on: McCarthy, M. O’Dell, F. (2008), Collocations in use, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Examples from the web:

  • I got interested in comic books at the age of 14.  (Informal)
  • I became interested in linguistics after high school. (formal)
  • Disabled people are becoming angry at the lack of attention that they get.
  • Because of Tom, Mary has become depressed.
  • During the military conflict in Darfur about 200 000 people have perished, and 2.5 million of the province’s people have become homeless.
  • The tickets sold out long before the team became popular.