🎙Mistake Break Podcast - Episode 12

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TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome back to Mistake Break!

Today, we're talking about endings.

Let's start with a common point of confusion. Which of these sentences is correct?

• At the end, I decided not to go.

• In the end, I decided not to go.

The correct choice is in the end but let’s find out why.

We use ‘In the end’ to describe the final result of a process, of a discussion, or a period of thinking. You were unsure, but after some time, you reached a conclusion.

• We couldn't decide where to go on holiday. In the end, we just stayed home.

• He worked hard and, in the end, he passed all his exams.

Now let's look at the verb end itself. Listen to this common mistake: "The film was ended at 8:30."

This is unnatural because the verb end is usually intransitive, and when we say intransitive, it just means things usually end by themselves; you don't need someone to do the ending to them.

The natural way to say it is: "The film ended at 8:30."

• The war ended in 1975.

• When does the lesson end?

• The game ended in a draw (draw means finishing equal, for example: 0-0 or 1-1, etc.).

We only use end as an action verb when a person deliberately finishes or stops something.

• She had to end the phone call because her battery was low.

Let's do a quick recap.

In the end means "finally" (and describes a result.)

Things usually just end on their own. 

BUT sometimes people actively end things.

And that brings us to the end of our show! I hope you understood everything in the end. Join us next time for another Mistake Break!

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Exercise:

Complete each sentence with either in the end or at the end.

1. We were tired after the long hike, so we went straight home ____ of the day.

2. I studied hard for the exam, and ____ I got an A+.

3. The show's credits appeared ____ of the episode.

4. After a long debate, we agreed to his proposal ____.

5. She read the book from beginning to ____.

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Answer Key:

1. We were tired after the long hike, so we went straight home at the end of the day.

2. I studied hard for the exam, and in the end I got an A+.

3. The show's credits appeared at the end of the episode.

4. After a long debate, we agreed to his proposal in the end.

5. She read the book from beginning to end.

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End (Verb) vs. Was Ended

This exercise focuses on the correct use of the verb end, specifically differentiating between its intransitive (things end on their own) and transitive (people end things) uses.

Exercise:

Choose the correct verb form, ended or was ended, to complete each sentence.

1. The movie ____ at 10:00 PM, and we went home.

2. The concert ____ by the power cut.

3. The meeting ____ unexpectedly when the fire alarm rang.

4. The teacher ____ the class 10 minutes early.

5. The war ____ in 1945.

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Answer Key:

1. The movie ended at 10:00 PM, and we went home.

2. The concert was ended by the power cut.

3. The meeting ended unexpectedly when the fire alarm rang.

4. The teacher ended the class 10 minutes early.

5. The war ended in 1945.

Extra note: At the end, to refer to the specific point in time or space where something finishes. It's almost always followed by the word of.

• "At the end of the film, the audience was silent."

• "Please pay your bill at the end of the month."

• "The bus stop is at the end of this street."

At the end of the dinner, someone made a speech