in the end 和at the end分別, 有例句和詳解

in the end 和 at the end的分別

問：1. There is a period ________ the end of this sentence.
A. with
B. at
C. in
D. on
(TOEFL)
2. She looked everywhere for her book but ________ had to return hoe without it.
A. at the end
B. in the end
C. in the finish
D. at the last
(大學生英語競賽題)
為什麼在句(1) 中必須選at, 而在句(2) 中必須選in the end?

答：in the end 是指“最後”、最終”、“終於”(finally; eventually; the final outcome was that), 後面不跟of 片語, 常常獨立地用作副詞:

1. I hope that everything will turn out all right in the end.
   我希望一切最終都很順利。
2. In the end they crossed the mountains and reached the Oregon Valleys.
   最後他們翻過了群山, 來到了俄勒岡谷地。

at the end 後面常常跟著of 片語, 表示“在……末尾”、“在……盡頭”:

1. You will find an index at the end of this book.
   書後有索引備查。
2. She was at the end of her patience.
   她已忍無可忍了。
3. At the end of the last ice age, the Earth’s climate began to change.
   在上一個冰川期的末期, 地球的氣候開始變化。

如果在at the end 之後不出現of 片語, 則從上下文可以看出是指“……的末尾”:

• I think the film’s a bit weak at the end.
  我認為這部電影的結尾差一點。