How to use "has reached its conclusion"

What Does "has reached its conclusion" Mean?

• The phrase "has reached its conclusion" signifies that a process, event, investigation, or discussion has come to an end. It implies a sense of finality and completion.
• The meaning is semi-idiomatic. While the individual words have their literal meanings, the specific combination creates a more nuanced understanding of completion and resolution.
• The register is generally neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts, but might sound slightly elevated in very casual conversation.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: auxiliary verb + verb + possessive pronoun + noun (has + reached + its + conclusion)
• Typical subjects include: trial, investigation, study, report, series, case, process, partnership, inquiry, argument, contest.
• The components of the phrase must stay together; they cannot be separated.
• What sounds unnatural: Using a different verb (e.g., "arrived at its conclusion" while grammatically correct, is less common), using the wrong possessive pronoun (e.g., "has reached their conclusion" when referring to a singular entity), or attempting to break up the phrase with unnecessary adverbs.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from has reached its conclusion on Ludwig.guru.

"We are relieved that the trial has reached its conclusion." — The Guardian

"Generally, civil proceedings begin only after the criminal case has reached its conclusion." — The New York Times - Sports

"The investigation team has reached its conclusion and in accordance with statutory regulations, a decision has been made by the appropriate authority that there is no case to answer." — The Guardian

"BBC4 are capitalising on the Danish TV love, with the 10-part series Borgen, which will broadcast after The Killing has reached its conclusion." — The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Despite praising the team's "outstanding performance", the mobile phone network MTN said its partnership with South Africa-based MTN-Qhubeka had "reached its conclusion" and it would not be renewing." — The Guardian - Sport

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/has+reached+its+conclusion

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
come to an end	A more general and slightly less formal way to express completion.
draw to a close	Suggests a gradual ending, often used for events or periods of time; slightly more literary.
has ended	A direct and simple alternative, suitable for most contexts.
has finished	Similar to "has ended" but may imply a task or activity; slightly less formal.
wrap up	An informal phrasal verb, best suited for casual settings, implying a neat and tidy ending.
be over	A simple and direct alternative, often used in conversation.
has concluded	A more formal single-word alternative, often used in official reports.

Common Mistakes

• Using a different verb that doesn't quite fit the context (e.g., "arrived at its conclusion" while understandable, is less common and less idiomatic).
• Incorrectly using a different possessive pronoun (e.g., using "their" when referring to a singular subject).
• Learners might create a more complex and less natural phrasing, such as "the process has finally been concluded".

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
has reached its conclusion	A process, event, or investigation has finished or ended.	auxiliary verb + verb + possessive pronoun + noun	Neutral to formal

FAQs

Can the parts of "has reached its conclusion" be separated?

No, the phrase "has reached its conclusion" should be kept together. Inserting words between "reached," "its," or "conclusion" would disrupt the flow and sound unnatural. The phrase functions as a unit to convey the idea of completion.

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How does "has reached its conclusion" differ from "come to a conclusion"?

While both phrases relate to finality, "has reached its conclusion" refers to something that itself is ending (like a trial or investigation). "Come to a conclusion," on the other hand, refers to someone making a decision or judgment after considering information.

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Is it correct to say "arrived at its conclusion" instead of "has reached its conclusion"?

While "arrived at its conclusion" is grammatically understandable, it's less common and idiomatic than "has reached its conclusion". The latter is more widely used and sounds more natural in most formal and neutral contexts. Using more complex phrasing like "the process has been concluded" is also less direct and less common.