Language Focus: On Time and In Time, At the End and In the End

20 min

It is the evening of the school drama festival. The S6 drama club is performing The Gods Are Not to Blame, and backstage the director, Uwase, is checking that everyone is ready.

UWASE Where is Gakwaya? The curtain goes up at seven, and the guests always arrive on time at this school.

INEZA He phoned. His bus broke down, but he says he'll be here in time for the second scene.

UWASE The second scene! He's the king's messenger. He's on stage at the end of the first scene.

INEZA Then Shema can read the messenger's lines. He learned the part in case of emergencies.

UWASE Fine. And the drums?

INEZA We had trouble with the big drum all afternoon, but in the end Teacher Habimana found a new skin for it.

UWASE Good. Remember: at the end of the play, everyone stays frozen until the lights go out. Then you bow.

INEZA We'll be fine. We were nervous at the dress rehearsal, but in the end it went well, didn't it?

UWASE It did. (She looks at her watch.) Two minutes. Places, everyone. Let's start on time.

Check your understanding

Why is Uwase worried about Gakwaya?
Which expression shows that the drum problem was solved after some difficulty?
What must the actors do "at the end of the play"?

Definition

on time: at exactly the planned or expected time; punctual. The play started on time.
in time: early enough, before the last possible moment, often followed by for + noun or to + verb. He arrived in time for the second scene. It can also mean "eventually, as time passes": In time, the village forgave him.
at the end (of): at the point where something finishes. At the end of the play, the hero is blind.
in the end: finally, after a long time, many events, changes or difficulties; used alone, never followed by of. In the end, Sidi marries Baroka.

The difference, drawn

Expression	Meaning	Typical patterns	Example from this unit
on time	punctual, at the scheduled time	start / arrive / finish on time; right on time	The festival always starts on time.
in time	early enough	in time for + noun; in time to + verb; just in time	Romeo does not arrive in time to see Juliet wake.
at the end	at the final point of something	at the end of + the play / the act / the year	At the end of Oedipus the King, the chorus speaks to the audience.
in the end	finally, after a process	In the end, + clause (often at the start of a sentence)	In the end, Faustus cannot repent.

Common mistakes

Wrong	Right	Why
In the end of the play, Macbeth dies.	At the end of the play, Macbeth dies.	"of the play" names a point: use at.
We came on time to see the opening dance.	We came in time to see the opening dance.	"to see" shows we were early enough: use in time.
We argued for an hour, and at the end we chose a play.	We argued for an hour, and in the end we chose a play.	The meaning is "finally, after difficulty": use in the end.
The bus was in time, at 6.30 exactly.	The bus was on time, at 6.30 exactly.	Punctual, at the scheduled moment: use on time.

Tip

Two quick tests. If you can add "of something" after it, you need at the end. If you can replace it with "finally" or "eventually", you need in the end. And remember: on time is about the timetable; in time is about being early enough.

Warning

"Just in time" (only just early enough) is very common; "just on time" is rare and means "exactly on schedule".
Don't write "at the end" when you mean "finally" in an essay conclusion. Write "In the end, both plays suggest…", or better, "Ultimately…".

BBC Learning English, "English In A Minute": the difference between on time and in time. Note the two example sentences and write one of your own for each.

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Practice

Complete each sentence with on time, in time, at the end or in the end.

The train left exactly ___ , at 8.15.
Hurry, or we won't get to the theatre ___ to buy tickets.
___ of Act 2, the lights go down and the drums begin.
Odewale searched for the killer for days, and ___ he discovered that it was himself.
The actors rehearsed late every night, but the costumes arrived only just ___ for the opening.
Correct the error: "In the end of the film, the village celebrates."
Write four sentences about a play you have studied, using each expression once.
In pairs, write and perform a short backstage scene (10–12 lines) like the one above, using all four expressions.

Show answersHide answers

on time
in time
At the end
in the end
in time
"At the end of the film, the village celebrates."
Answers will vary; for example: "At the end of Macbeth, Malcolm becomes king. In the end, Macbeth's ambition destroys him. Fleance escapes just in time. Our performance of Macbeth began on time." (Check each use.)
Answers will vary.

Check your understanding

1The difference, drawn

2Common mistakes

The difference, drawn

Common mistakes