Which One Is Right And Why?

Normally, the 1st, but the 2nd may be accepted by some.

Prime Minister of Australia - Speech - Community Morning Tea The ...

And I hope to have the opportunity of saying hello to quite a few of you when the formalities have completed. But thank you very, very much for having me, ...

Hi,

I wouldn't recommend saying 'The formalities have completed' in an exam.

Clive

The first, and only the first, is corect because this is the passive tense "All the formalities have been completed (by someone)"
the active tense is, "I have completed the formalities."
Hope this helps.

CliveI wouldn't recommend saying 'The formalities have completed' in an exam.

Nor would I, Clive. None of my dictionaries lists complete as an intransitive verb. However, English dictionaries just reflect actual usage and therefore, if enough people start using complete in the way exemplified in Marius's sentence, maybe the next editions will have that use.

Cheers
CB

Hi,

Personally, I can't remember hearing anyone use 'complete' in that way.

Cliver

Clive Personally, I can't remember hearing anyone use 'complete' in that way.

Well, glad to have provided the above quote from the Rt. Hon. John Howard , PM of Australia