What Does “Finish with sb” Mean?
“Finish with sb” means to end a relationship or connection with someone, usually romantic or personal.
Introduction
The phrase “finish with sb” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe breaking up or ending a relationship with someone. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” and it can refer to a boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, or colleague. Understanding the finish with sb meaning helps you express the idea of ending personal connections clearly and naturally. This phrase is often used in informal conversations and can describe both romantic breakups and other types of relationships coming to an end. Knowing how to use “finish with sb” correctly will improve your conversational skills and help you understand everyday English better.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: finish with somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to end a relationship with someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Finish with sb” is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it needs an object (somebody) after it. It is inseparable, so the object always comes after “finish with.”
- Correct: She finished with her boyfriend last week.
- Incorrect: She finished her boyfriend with last week.
Pattern:
- Subject + finish + with + somebody
How to Use “Finish with sb”?
You use “finish with sb” when you want to say that you or someone else ended a relationship. It is often used in personal or informal contexts. The phrase can describe ending a romantic relationship, a friendship, or even a partnership.
Example: After many arguments, he finished with his girlfriend.
Examples
Here are some examples showing how to use “finish with sb” in a sentence:
- She finished with her boyfriend because they had different plans for the future.
- He finished with his business partner after they disagreed on the company’s direction.
- They finished with each other on good terms and remained friends.
- After three years, she finally finished with her boyfriend.
- It’s hard to finish with someone you care about.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some common mistakes and the correct forms:
- Incorrect: I finished my girlfriend with last night.
Correct: I finished with my girlfriend last night. - Incorrect: She finished with her friend the relationship.
Correct: She finished with her friend.
Remember, “finish with” is inseparable, so the object must come immediately after “with.”
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrasal verbs and phrases can express similar ideas, but they have subtle differences.
- Break up with sb: Specifically used for romantic relationships. More common and emotional.
- End things with sb: Informal and similar to “finish with sb,” but more casual.
- Split up with sb: Also means to end a romantic relationship.
“Finish with sb” can be used more broadly for any relationship, not only romantic ones, while “break up” is mostly romantic.
Common Collocations
Here are common objects used with “finish with” and what they mean:
- Boyfriend/girlfriend: End a romantic relationship
- Partner: End a romantic or business relationship
- Friend: End a friendship
- Colleague: End a working relationship or cooperation
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of finish with sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “finish with sb”:
Anna: Did you hear that Mark finished with Lisa?
Ben: Yes, I heard. They had some problems for a while.
Anna: It’s always tough to finish with someone you love.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “finish with”:
- She decided to _______ with her boyfriend after the argument.
- They _______ with their business partner last month.
- It’s never easy to _______ with a close friend.
Answers:
- finish
- finished
- finish
FAQs
- Q: Can “finish with sb” be used for friendships?
A: Yes, it can describe ending any type of relationship, including friendships. - Q: Is “finish with sb” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal and used in everyday conversations. - Q: Can I say “finish with him” instead of “finish with somebody”?
A: Yes, “him,” “her,” or “them” are common pronouns used after “finish with.” - Q: Is “finish with sb” the same as “break up with sb”?
A: They are similar, but “break up” is mainly for romantic relationships, while “finish with” is more general. - Q: What tense can I use with “finish with sb”?
A: You can use various tenses, but past simple (“finished with”) is very common.
