English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 122: On time and in time / At the end and in the end

On time and in time

On time = punctual, not late. If something happens on time, it happens at the time that was planned:
  • The 11.45 train left on time. (= it left at 11.45)
  • 'I'll meet you at 7.30.'   'OK, but please be on time.' (= don't be late, be there at 7.30)
  • The conference was well-organised. Everything began and finished on time.

The opposite of on time is late:
  • Be on time. Don't be late.

In time (for something / to do something) = soon enough:
  • Will you be home in time for dinner? (= soon enough for dinner)
  • I've sent Tracey a birthday present. I hope it arrives in time (for her birthday).
    (= on or before her birthday)
  • I'm in a hurry. I want to get home in time to see the game on TV.
    (= soon enough to see the game)

The opposite of in time is too late:
  • I got home too late to see the game on TV.

You can say just in time (= almost too late):
  • We got to the station just in time for our train.
  • A child ran into the road in front of the car - I managed to stop just in time.

At the end and in the end

At the end (of something) = at the time when something ends. For example:
  • at the end of the month
  • at the end of January
  • at the end of the game
  • at the end of the film
  • at the end of the course
  • at the end of the concert

  • I'm going away at the end of January / at the end of the month.
  • At the end of the concert, everyone applauded.
  • The players shook hands at the end of the game.

We do not say 'in the end of ... '. So you cannot say 'in the end of January' or 'in the end of the concert'.

The opposite of at the end (of ... ) is at the beginning (of ... ):
  • I'm going away at the beginning of January. (not in the beginning)

In the end = finally.

We use in the end when we say what the final result of a situation was:
  • We had a lot of problems with our car. We sold it in the end. (= finally we sold it)
  • He got more and more angry. In the end he just walked out of the room.
  • Alan couldn't decide where to go for his holidays. He didn't go anywhere in the end. (not at the end)

The opposite of in the end is usually at first:
  • At first we didn't get on very well, but in the end we became good friends.

122.1 Complete the sentences with on time or in time.

  1. The bus was late this morning, but it's usually .
  2. The film was supposed to start at 8.30, but it didn't begin __________ .
  3. I like to get up __________ to have a big breakfast before going to work.
  4. We want to start the meeting __________ , so please don't be late.
  5. I've just washed this shirt. I want to wear it this evening, so I hope it will be dry __________ .
  6. The train service isn't very good. The trains are rarely __________ .
  7. I nearly missed my flight this morning. I got to the airport just __________ .
  8. I almost forgot that it was Joe's birthday. Fortunately I remembered __________ .
  9. Why are you never __________ ? You always keep everybody waiting.

122.2 Read the situations and make sentences using just in time.

  1. A child ran into the road in front of your car. You saw the child at the last moment. (manage / stop)
    .
  2. You were walking home. Just after you got home, it started to rain very heavily. (get / home)
    I __________ .
  3. Tim was going to sit on the chair you had just painted. You said, 'Don't sit on that chair!', so he didn't. (stop / him)
    I __________ to have a big breakfast before going to work.
  4. You and a friend went to the cinema. You were late, and you thought you would miss the beginning of the film. But the film began just as you sat down in the cinema. (get / cinema / beginning / film)
    We __________ .

122.3 Complete the sentences using at the end + the following:

  • the course
  • the game
  • the interview
  • the month
  • the race
  1. The players shook hands .
  2. I usually get paid __________ .
  3. The students had a party __________ .
  4. Two of the runners collapsed __________ .
  5. To my surprise, I was offered the job __________ .

122.4 Write sentences with In the end. Use the verb in brackets.

  1. We had a lot of problems with our car.
    (sell) .
  2. Anna got more and more fed up with her job.
    (resign) __________ .
  3. I tried to learn German, but I found it too difficult.
    (give up) __________ .
  4. We couldn't decide whether to go to the party or not.
    (not / go) __________ .

122.5 Put in at or in.

  1. I'm going away (1) at the end of the month.
  2. It took me a long time to find a job. (2) __________ . the end I got a job in a hotel.
  3. Are you going away (3) __________ the beginning of August or (4) __________ the end?
  4. I couldn't decide what to buy Laura for her birthday. I didn't buy her anything (5) __________ the end.
  5. We waited ages for a taxi. We gave up (6) __________ the end and walked home.
  6. I'll be moving to a new address (7) __________ the end of September.
  7. We had a few problems at first, but (8) __________ the end everything was OK.
  8. I'm going away (9) __________ the end of this week.
  9. A: I didn't know what to do.
    B: Yes, you were in a difficult position. What did you do (10) __________ the end?

Answer Key
Favorite Books
English Grammar Tests

PART A: 14 Elementary tests, 14 Pre-Intermediate tests, 8 Intermediate tests. Each test is specified on different grammar topics. PART B: 14 tests including Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper intermediate level grammar tests. Every test is focused on a different grammar topic. (2452 questions) PART C: 16 Multi-level grammar tests. Each test is specified on a different grammar topic. (1418 questions) PART D: 20 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. (2000 questions) PART E: 6 Elementary, 5 Intermediate, 3 Advanced grammar tests. The formats of the tests are similar and the level gradually increases. (1400 questions)

Read more
Table of Contents