Finish Doing vs. Finish To Do
Cambridge documents finish + -ing for completing an activity. The normal direct verb complement is therefore “finish doing,” while “finish to do” is not a parallel alternative in this construction.
Use “finish doing” when finish is followed by another verb: “finish reading,” not direct “finish to read.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| complete an activity expressed by another verb | finish + -ing | Use the -ing complement. |
| finish followed by a noun | finish + noun | A noun object is also possible; no infinitive contrast is involved. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is another verb directly naming the activity that gets completed?
If yes: Use “finish doing,” such as “finish reading.”
If no: If the complement is a noun, use the noun directly; direct “finish to do” is not the normal parallel construction for completing an activity.
Caveat: The rule concerns the direct complement of “finish”; an infinitive may appear elsewhere in a sentence for another grammatical reason without becoming a “finish to do” complement.
Examples
She finished reading the report.
Cambridge documents “finish” followed by an -ing form for a completed activity.
We finished packing before noon.
The -ing form names the activity completed.
He finished the assignment before dinner.
A noun can function as the object of “finish.”
Further guidance
Boundary
A later to-infinitive can occur for a separate purpose elsewhere in a sentence, but it is not the direct complement selected by finish.
Construction
Cambridge lists finish with an -ing verb for completing an activity.
Decision
Use “finish doing” for completing an activity expressed by another verb.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- finish — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Finish + -ing verb for completing an activity
- Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Verb-complement patterns, including verbs taking -ing, to-infinitive, or both with meaning differences