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On time / in time; At the end / in the end

English learners often struggle with the use of prepositions in expressions such as: On time / in time; At the end / in the end. This guide clarifies the differences between these commonly confused ph

English learners often struggle with the use of prepositions in expressions such as: On time / in time; At the end / in the end;

On time – means exactly on time, not later. The event happens at the precisely planned time.

The 11.45 train left ON TIME. (= IT LEFT AT 11.45)

The train at 11.45 left on time. (at 11.45)

Please, be there ON TIME. (= don't be late / be there at 7.30)

In time – soon enough to do something;

Will you be at home IN TIME for dinner? (= soon enough for dinner);

However: if we add 'just', the meaning is again 'exactly on time'

We got to the station JUST IN TIME to catch the train.

At the end (of something) – the time when something finishes.

at the end of the month / at the end of the film / at the end of January;

I'm going away at the end of January.

The opposite of 'at the end' is 'at the beginning' (The opposite expression of 'at the end' is 'at the beginning');

at the beginning of the concert / of January;

In the end = finally – we use it when saying what the final result of a particular situation was;

Tom couldn't decide where to go for his holidays. He decided to go to Italy in the end.