Cool MateEnd vs That was the last
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
End
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
That was the last
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: End
| End | That was the last | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/end/"]/🇺🇸 /["/end/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt wəz ðə lɑːst//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəz ðə læst// |
| Meaning | The last part of something; when something stops. | The final thing or instance. |
| Example | The end of the movie left everyone in tears. | That was the last time I saw her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | abrupt, sudden, early, come to, get to, reach, be in sight, user, point, product, at an end, at the end, by the end, at the very end, right at the end, from beginning to end, abrupt, sudden, early, come to, get to, reach, be in sight, user, point, product, at an end, at the end, by the end, at the very end, right at the end, from beginning to end, bottom, lower, top, come to, get to, reach, part, piece, portion, at the end, on end, at one end, change ends, close to the end, noble, worthwhile, worthy, accomplish, achieve, attain, to… ends, to this end, an end in itself, a means to an end, the end justifies the means, bottom, lower, top, come to, get to, reach, part, piece, portion, at the end, on end, at one end, change ends, close to the end, sad, tragic, bad, come to, meet, come | that was the last chance, that was the last straw, that was the last ticket |
| Antonyms | beginning, start | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'end' as a verb without an object, e.g., 'I will end' instead of 'I will end the meeting.', Confusing 'end' with 'finish' and using them interchangeably in situations where one is better than the other., Saying 'the end of the story' creating redundancy when 'the end' is understood as a conclusion. | Using with non-final contexts., Omitting the reason for emphasis., Confusing with 'this was the last' |
| Usage notes | Use 'end' to refer to the conclusion of events, projects, or periods of time. It's appropriate in most contexts but can be seen as informal in specific literary uses. | Use this phrase when indicating that something is the final occurrence. It’s typically conversational but can be used in narratives. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: End vs That was the last
What's the difference between End and That was the last?
End: The last part of something; when something stops. That was the last: The final thing or instance.
Which is more common: End and That was the last?
End is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
End: The end of the movie left everyone in tears. That was the last: That was the last time I saw her.
Can I use End and That was the last interchangeably?
Not always. End and That was the last are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.