It has nothing to do with people or things - 'over' is used for events that happen. The party had finished = The party was over The party has finished = The party is over In fact, both of your sentences about the washing machine are a little strange: it's the wash, rinse and spin 'programme' or 'cycle' which is finished - not the machine itself. If you talking about the past, you could possibly say 'The washing machine had finished'. By this you mean that it had finished its washing cycle, or that it had finished running. You cannot use 'over' in this sentence. A lesson can be over, a relationship can be over, a film can be over, a party can be over. But a 'washing machine' can't be over. This makes no sense. If something happens - and has a beginning and an end - then when it has finished, you can say that it 'is over'. A washing machine is not an event, so it cannot be 'over.'

Hi. My partner might say something like, "I'll be ready to go as soon as the washing machine finishes," or, "I'm just waiting for the washing machine to finish," or, "The washing machine has (just) finished." 'Over' can have a similar meaning to 'finish'but it also has other meanings as well. E.g. The footballer was over the hill. (Past his best) She climbed over the fence. (Indicating movement) You can find it over there. (Pointing out location) The lecture was over. (Finished) I hope this helps rather than confuses. Tambien tengo una pregunta. Como se dice, "The washing machine has finished," en espanol?

The washing machine was finished