Many of the rules of the Russian language are difficult even for its native speakers, not to mention foreigners. How to spell: finish or finish? Are these two verbs interchangeable, is there a difference between them? Detailed answers to these questions are contained in the article. Simple examples are also given to help you better understand the material.
Finish or finish: what is the difference
It may seem that these verbs have exactly the same meaning. Whether a person uses the verb “finish” or “finish” in oral or written speech, this does not affect the meaning of the phrase. People who sincerely believe this forget that the Russian language does not provide a place for chance. Each element is subject to a specific purpose, and prefixes of verbs are no exception.
Different prefixes are used precisely in order not to distort the meaning of the phrase, to accurately convey the meaning of the word, depending on the semantic context. The difference between the verbs "finish" and "finish" really exists. You just need to understand exactly what it is.
The verb "finish"
So, finish or finish? Suppose that a person wants to talk about the completion of an action that is associated with the performance of a certain work or only part of it. She can be intellectual, physical, creative. Or it is about the completion of a certain process that is not related to human activities.
What verb should he use in this case? The correct answer is to finish.
Examples with the prefix “for”
The examples below will help you better understand when the verb “finish” is used.
- "Pyotr Fedorovich has finally completed the construction of the cottage and set about arranging a personal territory."
- "The writer ended the novel with a sad phrase about an unhappy first love."
- "The assault on the fortress walls ended the era of the reign of a brutal dynasty."
- "The speaker finished the speech with a storm of applause and took her place in the auditorium."
- "Tatyana Vitalievna needs time to finish sewing a dress."
- "The opponents decided to end the argument because they could not come to a consensus in the debate."
- "Victoria must finish cleaning the apartment before the guests arrive, as she wants to make a good impression."
- "Alina Arkadyevna drew attention to the fact that the rain was over."
- "Winter is ending, the long-awaited spring will come soon."
The verb "finish"
Let’s say that the girl’s education at the university is over. Correct how to write: graduated or graduated from high school? In this case, use the verb “finish”. This option comes to the rescue only when it comes to the learning process, it is the only correct one.
There are persistent expressions that are useful to remember in order to no longer hesitate in choosing the right option. School, lyceum, seminary, university, college - all these institutions can only be graduated. How to: graduate or graduate? The correct answer in this case is the verb with the prefix "o".
Also, the verb “finish” should be chosen without hesitation when it comes to completing training at one or another course, and not doubt how to write correctly: graduated or graduated. For example, foreign language courses, cutting and sewing, extreme driving, oratory.
Examples with the prefix "o"
"It was hard to learn, but Maria still graduated with honors."
"Alexander graduated with honors and then moved to St. Petersburg."
"Elena Nikolaevna graduated from English courses in order to find work abroad."
"Alexei Mikhailovich graduated from extreme driving courses, because he wanted to feel more confident in driving a car."
"Svetlana did not want to spend five years studying at the university, she chose to graduate from college and get a job."
"Nikolai began acting in films and TV shows after he graduated from the Schukin School."
"Life circumstances forced Eugene to leave the university immediately after he graduated from the first course."
So, did Antonina Sergeevna graduate or graduate from a university? The only possible answer is graduated.
About interchangeability
The rules of the Russian language, relevant today, allow us to use the verb “finish” without hesitation when it comes to completing an action or process. For example, you can say “patient treatment is over” or “the construction of a summer house is finished”, this will not be considered a gross mistake.
However, the verb “finish” cannot be used in cases where the completion of training is meant. School (university, lyceum, technical school) can only be completed, but not completed. Therefore, you should not think about whether a student graduated or graduated from college.
Deprecated Option
There were times when the verb “to finish” was actively used in Russian, not only in colloquial, but also in written speech. As evidence, we can cite a conversation between two heroes from Victor Astafyev's work “The Sighted Staff”. One person tells another that "he graduated from school and became literate."
The times when the use of the verb “to finish” absolutely did not violate the rules of the Russian language remained in the distant past. Nowadays, they don’t say “finish school”, because this is a gross mistake that a competent person should not make.
To summarize
The verb “finished” is used when it is necessary to communicate the completion of an action in a broad sense. Whereas the verb “graduated” is used only when the completion of the learning process is meant.
The verb “finished” is part of the stable combinations, while the verb “finished” does not form them. The variant with the prefix “for” can be used in any speech structure that is suitable in meaning.
The verb “finished” cannot be replaced with the verb “finished”, this will be considered a mistake. How to: graduated or graduated from college? The only option is graduated.
The verb “finished” is allowed to be replaced by the verb “finished”, not paying attention to the context.
Interesting fact
At the moment, there is talk of finally making the verbs "finish" and "finish" interchangeably. This proposal is supported by some of the linguists, but by no means by all.
With accuracy, we can only say that no serious steps have been taken in this direction so far. It is possible that still the time will come when it will be possible not to specify whether the student graduated or has graduated from the university, but to confidently use any of the possible options. After all, the rules of the Russian language sometimes change.