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German Phrase

Ich hab meine Hausaufgaben fertig.

/ɪç haːb ˈmaɪ̯.nə ˈhaʊ̯sˌʔaʊ̯fˌgaːbn̩ ˈfɛʁ.tɪç/
Meaning"I have finished my homework."
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Meaning

Literally, ‘I have my homework finished.’ It is the everyday way to say ‘I have finished my homework.’ The verb ‘haben’ combined with the adjective ‘fertig’ signals completion.

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When to use

Use this sentence right after you finish your school assignments, when you want to tell a friend, a teacher, or a parent that you’re done. It’s informal, so it fits casual conversation rather than a formal report.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchhabmeineHausaufgabenfertig

1

hab (haben)

‘hab’ is the colloquial contraction of the verb ‘haben’ (to have) in the first‑person singular present. In formal writing you would use ‘habe’.

2

meine (possessive adjective)

‘meine’ agrees with the plural noun ‘Hausaufgaben’ in gender (feminine) and number (plural).

3

Hausaufgaben (plural noun)

‘Hausaufgaben’ is a plural noun meaning ‘homework’; it takes the plural article ‘die’ and plural endings.

4

fertig (predicative adjective)

‘fertig’ is used predicatively with ‘haben’ to express that something is completed. In more formal contexts you might use ‘erledigt’ or the construction ‘sind fertig’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich hab meine Hausaufgaben fertig.

I’ve finished my homework.

Super, dann können wir jetzt spielen.

Great, then we can play now.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich bin meine Hausaufgaben fertig.

    ‘sein’ is not used with ‘fertig’ for personal completion; you need ‘haben’ or the passive ‘sind fertig’.

  • Ich hab’ meine Hausaufgaben fertig.

    In formal writing the apostrophe is omitted; use the full form ‘habe’.

  • Ich hab meine Hausaufgabe fertig.

    ‘Hausaufgabe’ is singular; the phrase refers to the whole set of assignments, which is plural.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich habe meine Hausaufgaben erledigt.

    I have completed my homework.

  • Meine Hausaufgaben sind fertig.

    My homework is finished.

  • Ich bin mit meinen Hausaufgaben fertig.

    I am done with my homework.

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Cultural Tip

In spoken German, especially among younger speakers, the contraction ‘hab’ is very common. In a formal email or a school report you would use the full form ‘habe’ and might prefer ‘erledigt’ or the passive construction ‘sind fertig’. Also, remember that ‘fertig’ can be used with other verbs (e.g., ‘Ich bin fertig’ = ‘I’m done/finished’).