Greetings.
wordreference.com :
(1) I am finished with that customer.
my variants:
(2) I have finished with that customer.
(3) I finished with that customer.
I understand (2) and (3) but (1) seems strange to me.
Could you explain to me please:
What's the difference in meaning between (1) and (2)?
In what situations should we use (1) and in what (2)?
What's the difference in meaning between (1) and (3)?
In what situations should we use (1) and in what (3)?
Thanks.
loviii(1) I am finished with that customer.
First, you need to determine the meaning of #1. It depends on the context.
1. Levi has a long line of customers waiting to be served.
Wen he concludes the business with the customer he is dealing with, he can say: "I am finished with this customer; the next one in line can come in."
2. Harry is a customer. Harry is very demanding. He is not nice to Levi. He is never satisfied and wants more.
After Levi concludes his business with Harry, he can say "I am finished with that customer. I never want to see him again. He is the worst customer ever, and I refuse to talk to him again."
In a waiting line context, #1 is the usual and very common expression. #2 is understandable and ok, but not preferred, and I personally would never use #3.
As far as I understand, in this case we can use only (1) but not (2) and (3). Am I right?
As far as I understand, in this case we can use both (1) and (2) and (3). So,could you answer the questions of my original post as applied to this context? Thanks.
Yes.
Sorry, but this doesn't answer the original questions:
Nothing. The only difference in these sentences is preference. I have answered that question.
There is no specific special context where one sentence would be used over the other one. I have answered that question about my choice.
There is no difference in semantics. The only difference is the present tense of be plus the past participle of "finish" versus the simple past form.
I do not use the simple past form in that sentence. It is unnatural and awkward.