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Questions & Answers about Het werk is af.
Why does this sentence use af for "finished" instead of klaar?
Both can mean "finished", but they are used slightly differently. Af is great for tasks, projects, or physical things that are built or completed step-by-step (like homework or a painting). Klaar is more general and can also mean "ready" (like when you are ready to leave). For work or a project, Het werk is af is a very common and natural way to say it is fully completed.
Is af related to the verb afmaken?
Yes! Afmaken is a separable verb that means "to finish" or "to complete". In our sentence, af is used on its own as an adjective meaning "finished". You could also express a similar idea by saying Ik heb het werk afgemaakt (I have finished the work), which uses the exact same core concept.
Could I say Het werk is gedaan instead?
Yes, Het werk is gedaan (The work is done) is grammatically correct and everyone will understand you. However, Het werk is af is much more common and idiomatic in everyday Dutch when talking about completing a specific task or assignment.