Posted inN4 Grammar

Finishing Up: Mastering the ~終わる (~owaru) Grammar Pattern (JLPT N4)

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To finish doing [verb].

🎯 Primary Function

Indicates that the action described by the preceding verb has been brought to completion.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb ます-stem + 終わる (おわる) Examples: 飲む (nomu) -> 飲みます -> 飲み終わる (nomi-owaru) 読む (yomu) -> 読みます -> 読み終わる (yomi-owaru) 食べる (taberu) -> 食べます -> 食べ終わる (tabe-owaru) する (suru) -> します -> し終わる (shi-owaru) 来る (kuru) -> 来ます -> (Less common, usually just 終わる or other verbs)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used in formal contexts when discussing the completion of tasks or processes.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in everyday conversation to talk about finishing various activities.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in written materials, from casual messages to formal reports.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Widely used in spoken Japanese.

💡 Common Applications

Describing the completion of work, study, or tasks.
Used to state that a specific job or study session has ended.
Example: 宿題をし終わった。(Shukudai o shi-owatta.) – I finished doing my homework.
Indicating the end of reading, watching, or listening.
Used for activities involving consuming media or information.
Example: 本を読み終わった。(Hon o yomi-owatta.) – I finished reading the book.
Referring to the completion of eating or drinking.
Used to state that a meal or drink has been finished.
Example: ご飯を食べ終わりました。(Gohan o tabe-owarimashita.) – I finished eating the meal.
📊
Frequency
Very frequent in daily conversation and writing.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy, suitable for JLPT N4 learners.
Example Sentences
宿題をし終わったら、遊びに行ってもいいですよ。
You can go out to play once you finish your homework.
この本を読み終わるのに時間がかかりました。
It took me a lot of time to finish reading this book.
みんなが食べ終わるまで待っていてください。
Please wait until everyone finishes eating.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Attachment Rule
Always attach 終わる to the ます-stem of the preceding verb.
Example: 勉強します -> 勉強し終わる (OK) 勉強する -> 勉強する終わる (NG) 食べた -> 食べ終わった (OK – 食べます -> 食べ + 終わった)
Focus on Action Completion
This pattern specifically highlights the completion of the *action* described by the verb.
Example: 映画を見終わった。(Eiga o mi-owatta.) – I finished *watching* the movie. 映画が終わった。(Eiga ga owatta.) – The movie *finished*. (The movie itself ended.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using the plain form or て-form directly before 終わる.
✅ Use the ます-stem.
The correct structure is Verb ます-stem + 終わる, not Verb Plain Form + 終わる or Verb て-form + 終わる.
❌ Confusing ~終わる with the standalone verb 終わる.
✅ Remember ~終わる means “finish doing X” while 終わる means “X finishes”.
~終わる describes the completion of a preceding action, while 終わる is a general verb meaning “to finish” or “to end” and often describes events or things finishing.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: The politeness level depends on the conjugation of 終わる itself (e.g., 終わります – polite, 終わった – plain past).
Social Situations: Used in various social situations, both casual and formal, depending on the verb and conjugation.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations in the usage of this basic pattern.

🔍 Subtle Differences

~終わる vs. 終える (おえる)
~終わる attaches to a verb stem and focuses on the completion of the action itself. 終える is a transitive verb meaning “to finish” or “to complete” and often takes a direct object (を), referring more broadly to finishing a task or project.
When to use: Use ~終わる when you want to emphasize finishing the *action* (e.g., reading, eating, writing). Use 終える for finishing tasks, projects, or events (e.g., 仕事を終える – finish work, 会議を終える – end the meeting).
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📝 Conjugation Notes

終わる conjugates as a regular 五段 (Godan) verb. Examples: 終わります (owarimasu), 終わって (owatte), 終わった (owatta), 終わらない (owaranai), 終われる (owareru – potential).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Ensure a clear distinction between the verb stem and 終わる, especially when the stem ends in a vowel.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as adding “finish” to the core action of the verb. Visualize the action being completed.

Practice Exercises
彼は手紙を（　　）。
A) 書いて終わった
B) 書き終わった
C) 書く終わった
D) 書きます終わった
勉強を（　　）から、ゲームをしました。
A) し終わる
B) し終わります
C) し終わった
D) する終わった
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