What is the difference between "end" and "finish"?

[dzungqn]

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", question 9

I've written practically the whole book except for the last part and I just don't know how to ......... the story.

(a) end
(b) ending
(c) finish
(d) finishing

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", answer 9

I've written practically the whole book except for the last part and I just don't know how to end the story.

Correct answer: (a) end

Your answer was: correct
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He repeats ending work every day at the same time. So I think the correct one must be "ends"?

dzungqn

[Torsten]

After how to follows the infinitive, in our case the correct form is end.
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[made sariada]

Dear teacher,

At the previous explanation, you wrote that "finish' gives the idea of completion. And we know this sentence is about process of making or completing a book.
So why does it use "end" rather than "finish'?

I'm looking forward to your explanation

Thanks and best wishes,

Made Sariada

[surangwood]

Neither nor me why does not use "finish''?

Thank you ^_^

[Mister Micawber]

.
"Finish" and "end" have similar meanings, and are often interchangeable. There are some differences, though. According to Michael Swan*.

"1. 'finish' + object: When we talk about getting to the end of something or completing an activity, we usually prefer 'finish'.
He never lets me finish a sentence.
She's always starting something new, but she never finishes anything.
You'll never finish that hamburger – it's too big for you.
Have you finished cleaning the floor yet?
Note that 'finish' can be followed by an –ing form [but 'end' is not followed by an –ing form].

2. 'end' + object: When we talk about stopping or breaking something off, we usually prefer 'end.:
I decided it was time to end our affair
It's time to end the uncertainty – the Prime Minister must speak out.
'End' cannot be followed by an –ing form:
I decided to stop seeing here (NOT …to end seeing her.)

3. 'end' + object = 'bring to a close'
When we are talking about a special way of bringing something to a close of 'shaping the end of something, we usually prefer 'end'
How do you end a letter to somebody you don't know?
She ended her concert with three songs by Schubert.
My father ended his days (=died) in a mental hospital.

4. shape
When we are referring to the shape of things, rather than to time, we normally use 'end.'
The road ended in a building site (NOT The road finished…)
Nouns that end in –s have plurals in –es…."

5. changes End is more common when there is an important change.

I decided it was time to end our affair.
It’s time to end the uncertainty – the Prime Minister must speak out.
The Second World War ended in 1945….
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
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