Did the movie end or finish?
End and finish are often very similar and can sometimes be used interchangeably.
Both words can mean that something comes to its conclusion or is completed.
When END and FINISH mean the same thing
1. A movie ends / finishes
The movie ended at 10 p.m.
The movie finished at 10 p.m.
✅ Both are correct.
2. A meeting ends / finishes
The meeting ended earlier than expected.
The meeting finished earlier than expected.
✅ Both are correct.
3. A class ends / finishes
The class ended at noon.
The class finished at noon.
✅ Both are correct.
The Main Difference
END = Something reaches its conclusion
We often use end when we focus on the point at which something stops existing or stops happening.
The concert ended with a standing ovation.
The war ended in 1945.
Summer ends in September.
FINISH = Complete a task or activity
We often use finish when someone completes an action, task, project, meal, book, or assignment.
I finished my homework.
She finished reading the book.
Have you finished your report?
When FINISH is Natural but END is Not
1. Finish your homework
📚 Finish your homework = terminar o dever de casa
I need to finish my homework before dinner.
❌ End my homework
2. Finish a book
📖 Finish a book = terminar um livro
She finished the book in two days.
❌ End the book (unless you mean write the ending of the book)
3. Finish a meal
🍽️ Finish your meal = terminar a refeição
Please finish your dinner.
❌ End your dinner (not natural)
4. Finish a project
💼 We finished the project on time.
❌ We ended the project on time. (This sounds like we stopped it, not completed it.)
When END is Natural but FINISH is Not
1. End a relationship
❤️ They ended their relationship last year.
❌ They finished their relationship.
2. End a war
🕊️ The war ended in 1945.
❌ The war finished in 1945.
3. End a contract
📄 The company ended the contract.
❌ The company finished the contract. (Different meaning)
4. End a conversation
🗣️ He ended the conversation abruptly.
❌ He finished the conversation abruptly.
Common Expressions
The End
🎬 At the end of a movie, you may see:
THE END
We do not say:
❌ THE FINISH
Finish Line
🏃 In a race, athletes cross the:
finish line
❌ end line (different meaning in sports)
Quick Reference
| Expression | Correct? |
|---|---|
| End a movie | ✅ |
| Finish a movie | ✅ |
| End a meeting | ✅ |
| Finish a meeting | ✅ |
| Finish homework | ✅ |
| End homework | ❌ |
| Finish a book | ✅ |
| End a book | ❌ |
| Finish a meal | ✅ |
| End a meal | ❌ |
| End a relationship | ✅ |
| Finish a relationship | ❌ |
| End a war | ✅ |
| Finish a war | ❌ |
| Finish a project | ✅ |
| End a project | Usually ❌ |
Pronunciation
End
/end/
Portuguese approximation: “ênd”
Finish
/ˈfɪnɪʃ/
Portuguese approximation: “FÍ-nish”
Practice
Complete with END or FINISH.
- I need to ______ my homework before bedtime.
- The movie ______ at 11 p.m.
- She ______ reading the book yesterday.
- The meeting ______ earlier than expected.
- They decided to ______ the relationship.
- Please ______ your dinner.
- The war ______ many years ago.
- Have you ______ the project yet?
Answers
- finish
- ended / finished
- finished
- ended / finished
- end
- finish
- ended
- finished
Common Chunks to Memorize
✅ finish your homework
✅ finish a book
✅ finish a meal
✅ finish a project
✅ finish reading
✅ finish writing
✅ end a relationship
✅ end a war
✅ end a contract
✅ end a conversation
✅ end a meeting
✅ end a movie
Tip
Think of it this way:
- FINISH is usually about completing a task or activity.
- END is usually about something stopping, concluding, or coming to an end.
A simple question to ask yourself is:
👉 Am I completing something? → FINISH
👉 Is something coming to its conclusion? → END