Verb + de + infinitive
finir
deparno preposition
The constructions
definir de + infinitif
Meaning : to finish doing
Tu as fini de manger ?
Do not writeTu as fini à manger ?
parfinir par + infinitif
Meaning : to end up doing
Il a fini par accepter.
no prepositionfinir quelque chose
Meaning : to finish something
J'ai fini mon exercice.
Why
Finir de says an action comes to an end. Finir par says you end up somewhere after hesitation or resistance: il a fini par accepter, after refusing for a long time. The two never swap. Before a noun, finir is direct.
Read the full lesson : Prepositions: place, time, and verb + à, de or infinitive →