on time · in time · at the end · in the end
Punctual · Soon enough · When something finishes · Finally — Complete Guide
on time · in time · at the end · in the end
Ponctuel · Assez tôt · Quand quelque chose se termine · Finalement — Guide Complet
Master the difference between on time (punctual) and in time (soon enough), and between at the end (when something finishes) and in the end (finally/eventually).
Maîtrisez la différence entre on time (ponctuel) et in time (assez tôt), ainsi qu’entre at the end (quand quelque chose se termine) et in the end (finalement/en fin de compte).
This unit focuses on four easily confused expressions. On time and in time both involve time, but on time means punctual (at the planned moment) while in time means soon enough (not too late). Similarly, at the end refers to the final point of something specific, while in the end means finally or eventually — often after a long process.
Cette unité traite de quatre expressions souvent confondues. On time et in time concernent toutes deux le temps, mais on time signifie ponctuel (au moment prévu) et in time signifie assez tôt (pas trop tard). De même, at the end désigne le point final de quelque chose de précis, tandis que in the end signifie finalement ou en fin de compte — souvent après un long processus.
on time — punctual, not late
on time — ponctuel, pas en retard
On time means punctual — something happens at exactly the time that was planned, neither early nor late.
On time signifie ponctuel — quelque chose se produit exactement au moment prévu, ni tôt ni tard.
Please be on time. Don’t be late.
The conference was well-organised. Everything began and finished on time.
Why are you never on time? You always keep everybody waiting. The 11.45 train left on time. (= il est parti exactement à 11h45)
Please be on time. Don’t be late.
The conference was well-organised. Everything began and finished on time.
Why are you never on time? You always keep everybody waiting.
in time — soon enough, not too late
in time — assez tôt, pas trop tard
In time (for something / to do something) means soon enough — not too late for a purpose or event.
In time (for something / to do something) signifie assez tôt — pas trop tard pour un but ou un événement.
I sent Amy a birthday present. I hope it arrives in time. (= on or before her birthday)
I want to get home in time to watch the game on TV. (= soon enough to see it)
We got to the station just in time for our train. (= almost too late — but made it!)
A child ran into the road. I managed to stop just in time. (= barely avoided disaster) Will you be home in time for dinner? (= assez tôt pour le dîner)
I sent Amy a birthday present. I hope it arrives in time. (= avant ou le jour de son anniversaire)
I want to get home in time to watch the game on TV. (= assez tôt pour le voir)
We got to the station just in time for our train. (= presque trop tard — mais on l’a eu !)
A child ran into the road. I managed to stop just in time. (= catastrophe évitée de justesse)
on time — the scheduled moment
on time — le moment prévu
in time — soon enough for a purpose
in time — assez tôt pour un but
at the end (of something) — the final point
at the end (de quelque chose) — le point final
At the end (of something) = at the time when something ends. It always refers to a specific thing that has a defined ending point.
At the end (de quelque chose) = au moment où quelque chose se termine. Cela désigne toujours quelque chose de précis qui a un point final défini.
At the end of the concert, everyone applauded.
The players shook hands at the end of the game.
I get paid at the end of the month.
Two runners collapsed at the end of the race.
We do NOT say “in the end of …”:
✗ in the end of January → ✓ at the end of January
The opposite is at the beginning (NOT “in the beginning”):
I’m going away at the beginning of January. 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.
I get paid at the end of the month.
Two runners collapsed at the end of the race.
On ne dit PAS « in the end of … » :
✗ in the end of January → ✓ at the end of January
Le contraire est at the beginning (PAS « in the beginning ») :
I’m going away at the beginning of January.
in the end — finally, eventually
in the end — finalement, en fin de compte
In the end = finally / eventually. We use it to say what the final result of a situation was — often after a long process, many attempts or much deliberation.
In the end = finalement / en fin de compte. On l’utilise pour exprimer le résultat final d’une situation — souvent après un long processus, de nombreuses tentatives ou de longues délibérations.
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.
The opposite of in the end is at first:
At first we didn’t get on very well, but in the end we became good friends. We had a lot of problems with our car. We sold it in the end. (= finalement nous l’avons vendue)
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.
Le contraire de in the end est at first :
At first we didn’t get on very well, but in the end we became good friends.
at the end (of something) — a specific endpoint
at the end — un point final précis
in the end — finally (after a process)
in the end — finalement (après un processus)
Complete with on time or in time.
Complétez avec on time ou in time.
Read the situations and write sentences using “just in time”.
Lisez les situations et écrivez des phrases avec « just in time ».
Complete with “at the end of” + the noun given.
Complétez avec « at the end of » + le nom donné.
Write sentences with “in the end”. Use the verb in brackets.
Écrivez des phrases avec « in the end ». Utilisez le verbe entre parenthèses.
Put in at or in (at the end / in the end).
Mettez at ou in (at the end / in the end).
Frequently Asked Questions — on time / in time / at the end / in the end
Questions fréquentes — on time / in time / at the end / in the end
On time = punctual, at the scheduled time: ✓ The train arrived on time (= at 11.45 as planned). In time = soon enough, not too late: ✓ I arrived in time to catch the train (= before it left). Ask: is it about a schedule (on time) or about having enough time for a purpose (in time)?
On time = ponctuel, à l’heure prévue : ✓ The train arrived on time (= à 11h45 comme prévu). In time = assez tôt, pas trop tard : ✓ I arrived in time to catch the train (= avant qu’il parte). Demandez-vous : s’agit-il d’un horaire (on time) ou d’avoir assez de temps pour un objectif (in time) ?
Just in time = almost too late, but not quite. It adds a sense of narrow escape: ✓ We arrived just in time for the show (= the show was about to start when we got there). ✓ I stopped just in time (= barely avoided an accident).
Just in time = presque trop tard, mais pas tout à fait. Cela exprime une échappatoire de justesse : ✓ We arrived just in time for the show (= le spectacle allait commencer quand on est arrivés). ✓ I stopped just in time (= évité l’accident de justesse).
No — this is a very common error. You must say at the end of the film. Use in the end without “of”: ✓ In the end, the hero wins. Use at the end of + specific noun: ✓ At the end of the film, everyone clapped.
Non — c’est une erreur très courante. Il faut dire at the end of the film. On utilise in the end sans « of » : ✓ In the end, the hero wins. On utilise at the end of + nom précis : ✓ At the end of the film, everyone clapped.
The opposite of in the end (= finally) is at first (= initially): ✓ At first we didn’t get on, but in the end we became friends. The opposite of at the end is at the beginning (NOT “in the beginning”): ✓ I was nervous at the beginning of the course, but more relaxed at the end.
Le contraire de in the end (= finalement) est at first (= au départ) : ✓ At first we didn’t get on, but in the end we became friends. Le contraire de at the end est at the beginning (PAS « in the beginning ») : ✓ I was nervous at the beginning of the course, but more relaxed at the end.
Yes — in the end is flexible in position: ✓ In the end, we decided to go. ✓ We decided to go in the end. Both are natural. Mid-sentence position is less common but possible.
Oui — in the end est flexible en position : ✓ In the end, we decided to go. ✓ We decided to go in the end. Les deux sont naturels. La position en milieu de phrase est moins courante mais possible.
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