When it comes to using the words “complete” and “completed,” it can be confusing to know which one to use in different situations.
The key difference between the two is that “complete” is an adjective, while “completed” is the past participle form of the verb “complete.”
The good news is that they are generally interchangeable in common usage across the board in English. Both “complete” and “completed” are correct, and they are about as popular as each other, though “complete” is slightly more popular.
Here are some examples to help you understand the difference:
- “The puzzle is complete.” (adjective)
- “I have completed the puzzle.” (verb)
In the first example, “complete” is used as an adjective to describe the state of the puzzle. In the second example, “completed” is used as the past participle form of the verb “complete” to indicate that the puzzle has been finished.
Take note that “complete” can also be used as a verb, but it’s less common than using “completed” as the past participle form of the verb “complete.” When using “complete” as a verb, it means to make something whole or to finish something.
Here are some more examples to help you understand how to use “complete” and “completed” correctly:
- “The project is complete.” (adjective)
- “I have completed the project.” (verb)
- “The form is complete.” (adjective)
- “I have completed the form.” (verb)
Grammatical Context
When deciding whether to use “complete” or “completed,” the first thing to consider is the grammatical context of the sentence. For example, “complete” is often used as an adjective to describe something that is whole or contains all the necessary parts. On the other hand, “completed” is the past tense of the verb “complete” and is used to describe an action that has already been finished.
When using “complete” as an adjective, make sure that it agrees with the noun it is modifying. For example, you would say “the project is complete,” but “the completed project was submitted on time.” In the first sentence, “complete” is used as an adjective to describe the state of the project, while in the second sentence, “completed” is used as the past participle of the verb “complete” to describe the action of submitting the project.
When using “completed” as a verb, consider the tense of the sentence. For example, you would say “I completed the project yesterday,” using the past tense of the verb “complete.” If you wanted to use the passive voice, you could say “the project was completed yesterday,” using the past participle of the verb “complete.”
Consider the context of the sentence when deciding whether to use “complete” or “completed.” For example, if you are talking about a job assignment, you might say “the complete job assignment includes a full set of instructions and a due date,” using “complete” as an adjective to describe the job assignment. However, if you are talking about a completed job assignment, you might say “the completed job assignment resulted in payment for services rendered,” using “completed” as the past participle of the verb “complete” to describe the action of finishing the job assignment.
Complete Vs Completed in Different Scenarios
“Complete” and “completed,” can be used in a variety of scenarios. Here are some scenarios where you might use one over the other:
State
If you want to describe the state of something, you would use “complete.” For example, “The building is complete.”
Action
If you want to describe an action that has been finished, you would use “completed.” For example, “I have completed the task.”
Task/Project
When referring to a task or project, “completed” is the past tense and indicates that it has been finished. “Complete” can be used to describe the state of a task or project that has all its necessary parts. For example, “The project is complete” or “I have completed the project.”
Order/Job
When referring to an order or job, “completed” is the past tense and indicates that it has been finished. “Complete” can be used to describe the state of an order or job that has all its necessary parts. For example, “Your order has been completed” or “The job is complete.”
Process
When referring to a process, “completed” is the past tense and indicates that it has been finished. “Complete” can be used to describe the state of a process that has all its necessary parts. For example, “The process is complete” or “I have completed the process.”
Understanding Complete and Completed in Different Tenses
When it comes to using “complete” and “completed” in different tenses, it’s essential to understand their meanings and how they are used in different contexts. Here’s a breakdown of the different tenses and how to use these words correctly:
Present Tense
In the present tense, “complete” is used to describe an ongoing action that is not yet finished. For example, “I am completing my homework right now.” On the other hand, “completed” is not typically used in the present tense.
Past Tense
In the past tense, “completed” is used to describe an action that has already been finished. For example, “I completed my homework last night.” On the other hand, “complete” is not typically used in the past tense.\
Present Perfect Tense
In the present perfect tense, “completed” is used to describe an action that has been finished at some point in the past, but the exact time is not specified. For example, “I have completed my homework.” On the other hand, “complete” is not typically used in the present perfect tense.
Past Perfect Tense
In the past perfect tense, “completed” is used to describe an action that had been finished before another action in the past. For example, “I had completed my homework before I went to bed.” On the other hand, “complete” is not typically used in the past perfect tense.
Future Tense
In the future tense, “complete” is used to describe an action that will be finished at some point in the future. For example, “I will complete my homework tonight.” On the other hand, “completed” is not typically used in the future tense.
Passive Voice
In the passive voice, “completed” is used to describe an action that has been finished by someone or something else. For example, “The project has been completed by the team.” On the other hand, “complete” is not typically used in the passive voice.
Common Mistakes and Misunderstandings
There are a few common mistakes and misunderstandings when it comes to using “complete” or “completed.” Here are some of the key things to keep in mind:
- Using “complete” and “completed” interchangeably: While “complete” and “completed” can both be used to describe something that has finished, they are not always interchangeable. “Complete” is an adjective that describes something that is finished, while “completed” is the past tense of the verb “complete.” So, for example, you might say “The project is complete” to describe a finished project, or “I have completed the project” to describe the act of finishing it.
- Misunderstanding the difference between “is complete” and “has been completed”: Another common mistake is to use “is complete” and “has been completed” interchangeably. While both phrases describe something that is finished, they have slightly different meanings. “Is complete” is a statement about the current state of something, while “has been completed” is a statement about the past action of completing something. So, for example, you might say “The project is complete” to describe the current state of a finished project, or “The project has been completed” to describe the past action of finishing it.
- Messing up verb tenses: When using “complete” and “completed” in sentences, it’s important to pay attention to verb tenses. For example, if you’re describing a project that you finished yesterday, you might say “I completed the project yesterday” (using the past tense) rather than “I complete the project yesterday” (using the present tense).
By keeping these common mistakes and misunderstandings in mind, you can use “complete” and “completed” correctly and effectively in your writing and speaking.
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