Difference between in the end and at the end

"In the end = finally, after a long time:

In the end, I got a visa for Russia.

At the end = at the point where something stops:

I think the film’s a bit weak at the end. p. 450

Difference between on time and in time

difference between on time and in time?

Michael Swan’s excellent Practical English Usage (Oxford University Press), provides a succinct answer to both of these questions:

"On time = at the planned time; neither late nor early:

Peter wants the meeting to start exactly on time.

In time = with enough time to spare; before the last moment:

He would have died if they hadn’t got him to the hospital in time." p. 450

Difference between when and while

Both when and while can be used to talk about actions or situations that take place at the same time.

Swan identifies the following differences:

1 Backgrounds

We can use both words to introduce a longer 'background' action or situation, which is/was going on when something else happens/happened.

			Somebody broke into the house when they were playing cards.
			While they were playing cards, somebody broke into the house.

Note that when and while clauses can go at the beginning or end of sentences.

2 Simultaneous long actions

We usually use while to say that two longer actions or situations go / went on at the same time.

While you were reading the paper, I was working.

If we are talking about ages and periods of life, we use when:

			When I was a child we lived in London (NOT While I was a child …)
			His parents died when he was twelve (NOT … while he was twelve)

3 Simultaneous short actions

We can use (just) when to say that two short actions or events happen / happened at the same time:

I thought of it (just) when you opened your mouth.

While is not possible in this situation.

4 Reduced clauses

It is often possible to leave out subject + be after when and while:

While/When in Germany, he got to know a family of musicians. (=While/When he was in Germany …)

Practical English Usage, Michael Swan, OUP, pp. 73-74

While vs whilst

There is no difference in meaning between these two words. In British English whilst is considered to be a more formal and literary word than while.

Be Verb

The verb 'to be' is, in most cases, what we call a stative verb. These are verbs which refer to states rather than actions, and are hardly ever used in continuous (progressive) verb forms, i.e. present continuous, past continuous, future continuous, etc.

			I am sad at the moment (NOT I am being sad …)
			He was in the kitchen when the phone rang (NOT He was being in the kitchen …)
			I will be in Tenerife this time next week (NOT I will be being in Tenerife …)

However, some verbs that are usually stative can be used in continuous verb forms when they have certain meanings. Be is one of these verbs.

The following sentences are correct because be is used to describe an action and not a state:

			The children are being very naughty (= They are doing naughty things)
			He was being careless (= He was doing something carelessly)

Compare these to the following examples, where be is used to describe a state and not an action:

			I hope you are well. (NOT I hope you are being well).
			He was very happy when his friends arrived. (NOT He was being very happy …)

The other use of the word being is in passive verb forms. We usually make these forms by using tenses of the verb 'to be' followed by a past participle. The following forms are quite common:

Present progressive (am/are/is being + past participle)

The shop is closed because it is being renovated.

Past progressive (was/were being + past participle)

I knew that he was being dishonest.

Passive –ing forms (being + past participle)

They look forward to being invited. be + infinitive Michael Swan mentions the following uses of this structure: Plans and arrangements: to talk about plans and arrangements (in a formal way), especially when they are official. The President is to visit Nigeria next month. Fate: to talk about things which are/were 'hidden in the future'. I thought we were saying goodbye for ever. But we were to meet again, many years later. Pre-conditions: in if-clauses, when the main clause expresses something that must happen first if something else is to happen. We must hurry if we are to get there by lunchtime. Orders: to give orders. You can go to the party, but you are not to be back late. Be + passive infinitive: the passive infinitive (to be + past participle) is often used in notices and instructions. This cover is not to be removed. The medicine is to be taken three times a day.