Can I use the following form:
Please tell me when you finished filling in this form.
Or does it have to be something along the lines of:
Please tell me when you have finished filling in this form.
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@Cardinal So how would I request someone to report back upon completion of given task ?– UmpaLumpa11Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 14:48
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4The first is talking about the past, asking for information about when the task was completed. The second is talking about the future asking for notification of the task completion. Using "notify" rather than "tell" might be easier to understand.– djnaCommented Aug 24, 2016 at 14:53
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@Cardinal my interpretation of the intent is not to ask for a prediction of when but rather to contacted at that time. Your formulations are good if indeed a prediction is being asked for.– djnaCommented Aug 24, 2016 at 14:55
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1 Answer
Your first sentence
Please tell me when you finished filling in this form.
is not correct, you could use either present or present perfect
Please tell me when you are finished filling in this form.
Please tell me when you have finished filling in this form.
alternatively you could use
Please tell me when you finish filling in this form.
All three mean "upon completion, please let me know".
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Doesn't the first one refer to a past completion? 'Please tell me when you finished filling in this form; I think you were the first one to finish it.' Compare 'Please tell me when you washed your car; Sara says you did it between 3 and 4pm, but I thought I saw you downtown at 3:30' Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 21:36
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1@AlanCarmack You are correct that it can be understood that way, but the OP was asking in the question title "about tasks that will be completed in the future".– PeterCommented Aug 24, 2016 at 21:39