Eventually vs. finally

[Mistarix]

Hi Alan & Torsten,

since this is my first contribution to this forum, it's kind of odd to ask a question concerning endings :wink: :

Can you tell me when I have to use eventually? Is there any difference to the word finally?
Someone told me that eventually means "leading up to something" (example: She eventually came home. --> meaning: she actually did come home).

I am quite unsure about when to use eventually.
Thanx for your help in advance...

[Alan]

Hi,

Let's start with the similarity of the two words: they are both adverbs and they both describe what happens in the end. The difference lies in emphasis. Let me give an example: We started our journey by car but then had a puncture. We then decided to go by bus but we had missed the last one. Then we paid for a taxi and EVENTUALLY reached our destination very late at night. This means we got there in the end but there was a series of problems/difficulties on the way. Another example: We talked about where we all wanted to go on holidays and this went on for some time until we FINALLY decided it was cheaper to have our holiday at home. This means the last thing after some time that we did was to make a decision.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Harsh Chowdhary]

hi Alan,
from your explanation I comprehended that 'eventually' is mainly used when we describe what happens in the end when series of 'events' are involved...and 'finally' is used when the description is made on the 'same event'..is it so???? please explain me if i have misunderstood it.....

[Torsten]

Hi Harsh,

As Alan has explained the difference between 'eventually' and 'finally' lies in emphasis. Do you know what 'emphasis' means?

For more information, please read this: Finally vs. eventually

Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEFL listening lectures: What makes 'The Canterbury Tales' easier to understand?

[Harsh Chowdhary]

hi Torsten,
'to give stress on' is what i know of 'emphasis'.I followed the link which u provided me here and there i got a clear idea about the usage of "finally" and "eventually".Do the examples signify that more emphasis is given in the usage of "eventually"?????

[Torsten]

Yes Harsh, the word 'eventually' is often used if you want to emphasize the fact that something took a lot of time and/or effort. However, it's best if you learn these words in context. For more on this, please listen to this: Why you should learn words in context...

By the way, I hope that you eventually stop misspelling the words 'you' and 'i'. There is no use talking about the differences between 'eventually' and 'finally' if you can't even spell the most commonly personal pronouns correctly. Wouldn't you agree?

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture from a social sciences class (2)

[Harsh Chowdhary]

hi Torsten,
you are right.I should spell each and every words in english correctly.I promise you I won't misspell any words from now onwards. you are pointing out each and every mistake which I make and so to tell you the truth I love posting messages in this forum.At last I have got a right place where I can truely learn and enjoy english.Thank you very much.

[Torsten]

Hi Harsh,

Please remember that you should also start every sentence with a capital letter and you need to put a space after each sentence. In addition, you need to capitalize the word'English'. All of these things are very basic rules.

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture from a social science class (2)

[Harsh Chowdhary]

hi Torsten,

I follow each and every suggestions of yours. Thank you very much.

[Grantio44]

Torsten. Wow. Why bother to take your time to help people on here if you can't be nice about it?

[Beeesneees]

Hello Grantio,

Torsten's post was polite but to the point.
Would you have us ignore the basics and let them pass without comment time after time?
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Cheers m' dears!

[Dipsy Ho]

Here's what I found in another forum :

Quote :
Finally implies something that's taken some effort:
I was out all day, my feet are killing me, but I finally got all my Christmas shopping finished!

Eventually implies something that's taken a little longer than expected:
The traffic was terrible, but we got there...eventually.