Completing an action with 〜終わる

Grammar: Time & Sequence » Starting / finishing / completing actions

To convey the completion of an action, 終(お)わる is attached to the stem of the verb.

Usage

In non-past tense, this means the action will (or will not) be completed. In past-tense, it means the action has (or has not) been completed.

終(お)わる is typically attached to transitive verbs, but may also be attached to intransitive verbs.

See also

When effort is required to complete an action, 終える is used.
When an action is started, 出す is used.

Further Reading

Japanese Aspect: the Beginning, Middle, & End of Actions (www.wasabi-jpn.com)
Kamiya, Taeko. "Describing Actions in the Present, Future, and Past." Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication, Kodansha, 2005, p. 99
Makino, Seiichi and Michio Tsutsui. "Main Entries." A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, The Japan Times Ltd., 1989, p. 362–363

Examples

Drinking completely with 〜終わる

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