An argument about the english language

[Torrseph]

For a while now me and a friend from Ireland have been having an argument about a sentence he once said to me. Now in my opinion I do not believe his sentence is worded properly, though he is adamant that he is right and that the sentence is perfectly fine. I cannot really explain what is wrong with the sentence so I wanted others opinions on what people thought.

This is the sentence:

'Some people have been finished their exams since Thursday.'

Please help us resolve this debate.

 

[reyttm4]

No I don't believe that makes sense, although I'm not exactly doing English in College so I wouldn't be able to come up with a fancy term.

'Some people have been finished their exams since Thursday.'
I think it should be more like 'Some people have been finished with their exams since Thursday'.

 

[MCDeltaT]

'Some people have been finished "with" their exams since Thursday.'

 

[Baby Tea]

It's awkward, that's for sure.
The 'their exams' part just seem out of place.

But I'm not an English major. So perhaps, though it's awkward, it could be fine.
Awkward, though.

EDIT:

'Some people have been finished "with" their exams since Thursday.'

DING! And the light turns on.
That fits like a glove.

 

[Torrseph]

Neither am I which is why I am finding it so hard to explain it to him. Please someone help.

 

[Dags90]

It should read, "Some people have been finished with their exams since Thursday."

 

[MissPixxie]

Likewise, as with your sentence, when translated into Irish, it makes perfect grammatical sense.

This is probably one of the reasons why it would be deemed correct, as although it sounds off in English, it makes perfect sense translated into Welsh

 

[ultrachicken]

It just needs a "with" after finished. That's it.

 

[Macropter]

The problem is that "have been finished" is passive. Thus, "their exams" is not a direct object, it's just chilling there. It should either be "Some people have finished their exams since Thursday," or, as the poster above me said, "Some people have been finished with their exams since Thursday." Or maybe you just can't tell because he's Irish.

 

[Torrseph]

To be honest I always thought it just needed words taken out of it.

'Some people finished their exams on Thursday'

That, to me, is essentially the same thing.

 

[Jackalb]

That's because the Irish language doesn't have yes or no, to say that, you just respond to the question in the affirmative. For example "Are you going to the shop?" "I am".

That's actually really interesting, Thaaaaank you ^.^

I can do a big South Park montage at the end of the day "I've learnt something today..."

 

[MissPixxie]

Likewise, as with your sentence, when translated into Irish, it makes perfect grammatical sense.

This is probably one of the reasons why it would be deemed correct, as although it sounds off in English, it makes perfect sense translated into Welsh

Which are both Celtic languages, whereas English is Germanic.

Just a case of different rules, it seems.

Wow, I didn't know English was Germanic! (Stupid Welsh medium education...)

Why does German have different rules regarding grammar then? (Sorry, derailing slightly)

 

[RewardMe]

Wow, I didn't know English was Germanic! (Stupid Welsh medium education...)

Why does German have different rules regarding grammar then? (Sorry, derailing slightly)

Just different ways of evolving, really. English is a Germanic language, but also uses a lot of Latin. However, because Ireland was quite isolated for many years, its grammar is just naturally different.

Not at all. Even most of england are divided by grammar. Depends on if you live in the north, south, east or west. Even so, how was ireland isolated? They never shared the same language as us before the english came along. So i don't understand what you mean by isolation.

 

[Eggsnham]

I dunno', it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[RewardMe]

Not at all. Even most of england are divided by grammar. Depends on if you live in the north, south, east or west. Even so, how was ireland isolated? They never shared the same language as us before the english came along. So i don't understand what you mean by isolation.

England was originally Celtic, but was invaded by the Romans, then the Vikings in certain areas, then the Saxons, then the Normans. Ireland, however, remained totally Celtic up until the 13th century, and even then, there was a clear divide between native Irish and settlers, unlike England, where there was integration.

Hehe, that was not my question.. How can irish grammar be any different from english grammar? You speak the same language as us. What i was wandering was how you "isolated" irish developed your own grammar, that you seemed to mention. Like i said, north, south, east or west have their own grammar in england. The irish are no different.