When to use ON time or IN time in English | Advanced English grammar

Learn the difference between ON time and IN time in English in this advanced English grammar lesson.

👀 Watch this English video with subtitles to practice your British English listening skills!

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I'm Greg, the owner of OLA Online Language Academy. I come from Yorkshire, England, and have taught English in France and mostly Spain since 2002. I speak Spanish and French fluently, and now I want to help YOU reach a high level of fluency in spoken English... YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

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::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::LESSON NOTES::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ON TIME

We use ON TIME when there is a specific moment when something is supposed to happen or something is expected to happen, and this thing will happen at the planned time, for example:

Example 1: When I had an office job in England, I started working at 8 o'clock in the morning and I was ON TIME every day for work, if I wasn’t ON TIME I got a little red cross by my name, and if I wasn't ON TIME (or in other words if I was late) too many times, my boss would have a word with me... so I always arrived ON TIME.

Example 2: The train to London leaves my town in England at 8:48 in the morning every Saturday and it usually leaves ON TIME. In other words it usually leaves at 8:48, it leaves ON TIME.



IN TIME

In time means that something happened at the last minute, at the last moment, and if didn’t happen there would be a bad consequence.

Example 1: Once I went to Liverpool to watch the football and there was so much traffic on the motorway and on the roads going into Liverpool that I arrived just when the players were coming on to the field. I arrived IN TIME for the game, because I was there just before the game started and if I was late there would be a bad consequence: I would miss part of the game. So... I arrive IN TIME.

Example 2: The last exam I did was very, very difficult, so I did it very slowly and I didn’t think I was going to finish in time, but fortunately, towards the end of the exam I got quicker and thankfully I finished IN TIME and passed. So I finished at the last moment and the bad consequence is that if I didn’t finish before the finish time, I would have missed some questions and I might have failed the exam. Fortunately, I finished IN TIME.



EXPRESSIONS

Now I’m going to give you two typical common expressions using in time that native speakers always use:

● JUST IN TIME
This means just at the last minute, the last second, so we could say that if you watch Superman, you will know that he always arrives JUST IN TIME to save Lois Lane.

● JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME
This means right at the last possible second, so when Superman goes to save Lois Lane, he always destroys the bomb JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

[EnglishWithGreg]

Hope you enjoyed this video!! If you want to become more fluent in English...

[fatmaadan]

Your the best teacher of the whole world

[lizjarry]

Thanks Greg, I discovered your videos and I love them, you're very clear and explain well !

[buburaj]

We should always try to do things on time not in time for a tension free life.❤

[Marco-from-Germany]

Hi Greg,
Well explained. Now I understand the difference. The bad consequence made it.

The train arrived the station on time. So I was in time for my job interview.

[shanmugasundaram]

Thanks very much indeed, Greg, for such a wonderful lesson. You're an amazing teacher!

[aliibrahimadam]

Dear my teacher Greg thank you for all your great serial lessons you teach us. this is unbelievable opportunity that i did not use to expect in my life. thank you so much.

[EnglishT]

dear Greg, thanks for your great lessons. they are really useful for me

[taoufiqleuleu]

You are great, fantastic and outstanding.

[moristhetiger]

It was a very nice video, I liked it a lot.

[robertsaez]

Thank you sir Greg, I have been learning a lot from your lesson.
By the way your face just little bit look likes by Nicolas Cage(american actor if I'm not mistaken)😁😁😁✌

[francomarini]

Thank you for the nice video, Greg.
Last year I was in my hotel in New York waiting for the shuttle bus to the airport and  asked the receptionist if the bus would be punctual. He told me that normally it was punctual. Some minutes later I asked the same question to the doorman who said" Punctual? What does it mean... on time?"
Is "punctual" a little bit too formal?

[alioli]

Nice! I think is a good initiative to motivate us to improve our English level. You arrive on time :)

[kirronshroff]

perhaps slight difference in time within the same time frame while on time right on time it just he / she csme at 5 sharp eg

[adamearth]

The meeting is at 8:00 am.
Be on time! = you must be there at 8:00 am exactly .
Be in time, 30 minutes. = you must be there at 7 : 30 am.

[ranatarek]

I am going to leave home earlier to arrive in time. Can I say I am going to get out earlier (instead of leave home) ?

[claudiatessitore]

Greg, could you help me with the expression IT’S HIGH TIME….
I know after it, the verb must be in the past. However, is it possible to use the INFINITIVE ?
e.g. It’s high time to take up an English course with. (Emphasis)
Wait for your reply. Thanks 😊

[sujathaswaminathan]

Would you please teach me the difference between drunk and drunken..and also how to use these words in sentences.

[marcioluiz]

I recommend that people subscribe to your channel just in time to be selected to get not only 5 free but also awesome and excellent classes with OLA. When I get it. I'll be there on time. No worries!!!😆😂

[teacherrefat]

Just subscribed to your channel. May I speak to you via Skype, please?