Thread: 'заканчиваю работать в пять вечера'.. is заканчивать an 'auxillary' verb here?

Originally Posted by grafrich

And "закончить работу" and "закончить работать" for "will finish work/ will finish working.

No.
Заканчивать is "continuos" form. Закончить is "perfect" form. Past/present/future are regulated by endings and surrounding words.
"Я закончил..." - "I had/have finished..." (past/present is defined by surrounding words like "сейчас", "вчера" or context. You may think as if in russian "past-perfect form" includes moment ago)
"Я закончу" - "I will finish"
"Я заканчивал" - "I was finishing..."
"Я заканчиваю" - "I am finishing/I will finish" (present/future via "сейчас", "завтра" or context)
"Я буду заканчивать" - "I will be finishing (??? not sure if it is corrrect)