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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #112889: At last/ Finally/ In the end/ At the end
    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Adverbs | Speaking | Frequent mistakes [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Placement test beginners: Check your spelling - Adverbs of frequency - Past simple or present perfect - Vocabulary: greeting people - Vocabulary: on the phone - On the phone - Adjectives and adverbs - Interacting with someone
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    At last/ Finally/ In the end/ At the end


    AT LAST/ FINALLY/ IN THE END/ AT THE END OF... 

     

    AT LAST, FINALLY and IN THE END  all have the meaning of "after a period of time".  However, they're used in different ways. 

     

    1) AT LAST is used when there has been impatience, a discomfort or a feeling which was the result of long delays. 

    Its normal position is at the beginning of the clause, or at the end of it, or between the auxiliary and the past participle.

    - After a two-hour delay, Tom's plane has landed at last.

    - When he arrived at last, I was so angry that I refused to talk to him.

     

    2) FINALLY = LASTLY  refers to an action that someone has been waiting for a long time and that was difficult to realize.

    Most of the time the adverb is placed between the subject and the main verb, or between the modal or the first auxiliary and the main verb, and after the verb TO BE when it is the main verb.

    It can also introduce the last element in a series.

    - Our economy must increase productivity, reduce unemployment and finally develop competition.

    Some people suggest that some satisfaction, some relief are felt when AT LAST  is used, whereas FINALLY  could be used either for positive or negative results.

    LASTLY  refers to an element that comes at the end of a long list. 

    - We must buy flour, chocolate, butter, eggs and finally/ lastly some baking powder to make a cake for Kym's birthday.

     

                                                                       

     

    3) IN THE END suggests a conclusion after a long process, a lot of suggestions and changes or some uncertainty.

    - Each of us suggested a different plan for our holiday, but in the end we went to the South of France as usual.

     

    4) AT THE END  refers to a position at the end of something. 

    - Put a full stop at the end of your sentence.

     

    BY THE END, means there's a limit= «at some point before the end».

    - Don't worry! She'll be here by the end of the morning.

     

                                                                          

    There you are! You must be ready for the test now! Go for it!  



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    1. They hadn’t accepted our conditions but, , after months of discussion they offered to buy our house at its full price.


    2. They’re here ! We’ve been waiting for half an hour and were ready to go...


    3. The transit system was out and as there were no taxis, we got home at 2 am.


    4. I’ve discovered how to print envelopes on my printer! I’m such an IT dummy…


    5. She has got a job, which is good as her parents were fed up supporting her till 35.


    6. We were to go to Austria, then to the South of France and we decided to go to Italy.


    7. After days of searching the rubble, when they found him, he was dead.


    8. She’s had over twenty interviews but Jasmine has found a job as a journalist for a local paper.


    9. . After taking them for 3 consecutive years, she has passed her exams .


    10. She has given me the book she had promised me for months.


       








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