"Complete" vs. "Completed"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

  1. We will not know all the facts until the investigation is complete.

  2. We will not know all the facts until the investigation is completed.

Would you please explain the difference?

Thank you

2

Hi James,

Obviously the two sentences are quite similar in meaning. However, the use of ‘complete’ simply refers to a state of completeness, whereas the use of ‘is completed’ suggests action.

3

Esl_Expert,
“All the facts will be known only when the investigation is complete(adj)/completed(pp).”
Is this sentence OK?

4

Thank you, ESL Expert.

5

Esl_Expert,
Please confirm.

6

That sentence is okay.

Esl_Expert is not able to check the forums every day. Please have patience.

7

Yes, the sentence is fine both ways. The use of ‘is completed’ can be viewed as the passive form of the verb ‘to complete’, which would make ‘completed’ a past participle. In my opinion, the use of ‘completed’ as an adjective would tend to be more often a pre-modification of the noun rather than a post modification.