Is Done vs. Has Done – Which is Correct?
Both “is done” and “has done” are correct, but they serve different purposes. “Is done” usually describes a completed state or uses the passive voice: “The work is done.” “Has done” is present perfect active voice and needs an object or complement: “She has done the work.” Choose based on meaning.
Is Done or Has Done – Which is Correct?
“Is done” and “has done” are both correct English expressions, but they are not interchangeable. The main difference is grammatical voice and meaning.
“Is done” uses a form of be plus the past participle done. It commonly describes a completed condition or forms the passive voice. For example, “The assignment is done” emphasizes the assignment’s current state, while “The assignment is done by the student” emphasizes what happened to the assignment.
“Has done” uses the present perfect form of the verb do. It describes an action completed before now, often with a present result. Because do is normally transitive in this construction, “has done” usually needs an object, such as “has done the work” or “has done something helpful.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the state-versus-action test. If you are describing the condition of something, choose “is done”: “The project is done.” If you are describing what a person or thing has accomplished, choose “has done”: “Maria has done the project.”
This state-versus-action distinction also clarifies when to choose Done vs. Finished in everyday English.
You can also use the question test:
- If the question is What is finished?, use “is done.”
- If the question is What has someone accomplished?, use “has done.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is done | Passive or linking verb phrase | Is completed or has been completed | The report is done. |
| has done | Present perfect verb phrase | Has completed or performed an action | He has done the report. |
How to Use Is Done
Use “is done” when you want to describe something as completed. In this use, done functions as a past participle or a subject complement after the linking verb is. The phrase focuses on the result or current condition rather than on the person who performed the action.
“Is done” can also be part of a passive construction. In that case, the subject receives the action, as in “The repair is done by a qualified technician.” In everyday conversation, “The repair is done” often simply means that the repair has been completed. The expression is appropriate in casual, professional, and formal contexts.
Example 1: The presentation is done, so we can send it to the client.
Example 2: Dinner is done; please set the table.
Example 3: The final inspection is done by an independent engineer.
What are the different forms of Is Done?
The phrase changes according to the tense of the verb be. Common forms include was done for the past, will be done for the future, is being done for an action currently in progress, and has been done for a completed passive action connected to the present.
Examples include “The work was done yesterday,” “The work will be done tomorrow,” and “The work is being done now.” When done describes a state rather than a passive action, “The work is done” means that the work is complete.
Etymology of the Phrase Is Done
Done comes from the Old English verb don, meaning “to put, place, or perform.” Over time, it developed into the past participle of do. The verb be comes from several ancient Germanic forms and is used in English to express existence, condition, and passive constructions.
How to Use Has Done
Use “has done” when the subject is a singular third-person noun or pronoun and you are describing an action completed at an unspecified time before now. It is the present perfect form of do and normally takes an object.
“Has done” emphasizes the connection between a past action and the present. For example, “She has done her homework” tells us that her homework is now complete. It can also describe repeated experience, achievement, or a recent action when the exact time is not important.
For plural subjects and the pronouns I, you, and we, use “have done” instead. Do not use “has done” with a plural subject.
Example 1: Daniel has done an excellent job on the renovation.
Example 2: The company has done everything it promised.
Example 3: She has done enough research to make an informed decision.
What are the different forms of Has Done?
Has done is the present perfect form used with singular third-person subjects: “He has done,” “She has done,” and “The team has done.” Its negative form is has not done or the contraction hasn’t done. Its question form is created by placing has before the subject: “Has he done the assignment?”
Other forms of the verb include do in the simple present, does with singular third-person subjects, did in the simple past, and done as the past participle. The related present perfect form have done is used with plural subjects and with I, you, and we.
Etymology of the Phrase Has Done
Has comes from the Old English verb habban, meaning “to have or possess.” English later used forms of have as auxiliary verbs for perfect tenses. Done developed from Old English don, the ancestor of modern do. Together, “has done” expresses a completed action with present relevance.
Related Concepts
Understanding voice, tense, and verb complements makes the difference between “is done” and “has done” much clearer.
- Passive voice: In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action. “The contract is done” or “The contract is signed” focuses on the completed result rather than the person responsible.
- Present perfect tense: The present perfect combines has or have with a past participle. “She has done the work” describes a past action that matters now.
- Past participle: Done is the irregular past participle of do. It appears after forms of have in perfect tenses and after forms of be in passive constructions.
- Subject-verb agreement: Use has with singular third-person subjects and have with plural subjects, as in “He has done it” and “They have done it.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The two phrases appear in many kinds of communication, from dialogue and storytelling to workplace reports and news coverage. The following examples show their typical uses in context:
- In a workplace report: “The safety review is done” emphasizes that the review has reached completion.
- In a film conversation: A character might say, “It’s done,” to announce that a task, plan, or decision has been completed.
- In a news article: A report may state that an organization “has done more to improve access” when discussing an action and its continuing effect.
- In a novel: A narrator may write, “The deed is done,” using a formal or dramatic expression to show that an irreversible action has taken place.
- In an interview: A speaker might say, “She has done important work in the community,” highlighting a person’s achievements.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, is done or has done, to complete each sentence.
- The painting _____, so the artist can remove it from the easel.
- Marcus _____ all of his assigned reading.
- The installation _____ by a licensed electrician.
- She _____ a great deal to support the local charity.
- Once the inspection _____, the building can open.
Answer Key
- is done — This describes the painting’s completed state.
- has done — This describes what Marcus has completed.
- is done — This is a passive construction describing the installation.
- has done — This identifies an action that she has performed.
- is done — This describes the completion of the inspection.
Is Done Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| is complete | Has reached its finished state |
| is finished | Has ended or been completed |
| is concluded | Has formally come to an end |
| is accomplished | Has successfully been achieved |
Has Done Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| has completed | Has finished a task or activity |
| has performed | Has carried out an action |
| has accomplished | Has successfully achieved something |
| has carried out | Has executed or implemented an action |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “is done” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Is done” is correct when it describes a completed state or forms a passive construction. For example, “The assignment is done” means that the assignment is complete.
Question 2: Is “has done” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Has done” is the present perfect form of do used with a singular third-person subject. For example, “She has done the work.”
Question 3: What is the difference between “the work is done” and “she has done the work”?
“The work is done” focuses on the work’s completed condition. “She has done the work” focuses on the person who performed or completed the action.
Question 4: Should I say “he has done” or “he is done”?
Use “he has done” when you mean that he has completed or performed something, usually with an object: “He has done his homework.” Use “he is done” when you mean that he has finished an activity: “He is done with his homework.”
Conclusion
“Is done” and “has done” are both correct, but they express different ideas. Use “is done” to describe a finished state or passive action, and use “has done” to describe what a person or thing has accomplished in the present perfect tense. Pro Tip: Choosing the correct form in professional writing makes your meaning precise and strengthens your credibility.
