Tense Usage

Question

Hello,I've read a sentence which states "We are finished recruiting prospective tutors for the 2012-2013 academic year. ". Can you please tell me which tense is used here as past tense (finished) has been mixed with Present Continuous Tense.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi;

Welcome to the Forums!

This sentence has quite a few non-finite verbs. These are not part of the main verb in the sentence.

We are = present tense. The main verb is "be" in present tense.

finished = adjective (past participle of finish, used as a subject complement for "we")
recruiting = gerund, complement (object) of the non-finite verb "finished"

BillJ · Answer

AlpheccaStarshis sentence has quite a few non-finite verbs. These are not part of the main verb in the sentence.We are = present tense. The main verb is "be" in present tense. finished = adjective (past participle of finish, used as a subject complement for "we") recruiting = gerund, complement (object) of the non-finite verb "finished"

I don't follow you, AS.

You say that "finished" is an adjective, and then you say that "recruiting" is the ... object of the non-finite verb "finished".

BillJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

BillJYou say that "finished" is an adjective, and then you say that "recruiting" is the ... object of the non-finite verb "finished".

I was going by CJ's earlier posting on past participles as adjectives:
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... it is first necessary to understand the tests for being an adjective, as enumerated by Palmer. These tests are as follows. An adjective generally can be used before a noun, after a linking verb, with the adverbs very, rather, more, or most, (sometimes with already), and coordinated with another adjective with and. Not all of these are possible for every adjective, but they are generally possible for most adjectives. The following examples show, with these tests, how finished is an adjective.
a finished product (use before a noun)
The work is finished. (use after a linking verb)
*very finished (not really possible, since finished is not gradable)
already finished (use with already)
It is finished and ready. (with and and another adjective)
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I concede that "modifier" would have been more properly accurate in this case. It does have the character of non finite verb as well as being a complement. How would you describe the structure of this sentence?

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