by the end 到/在最后，表示到那时候，常常可以 据语境、时态看出。 

by...the end of 后一般跟完成时态

如：By the end of 2170, people _will have established_cities and industries.

He will have turned 30 by the end of this year.

in the end 在最后，一般表示结果，强调的就是结果。

如：I was saved in the end 我最后获救了。

at last只能指时间位置，而不能指时间顺序，在语义上指经过，周折，等待，耽搁后的“最后，终于”得到所期待的结果。

At last , he passed the exam . 最后他终于通过了考试。（可用in the end代替）

finally 指一系列事物或论点的顺序，在列举事物时可以用来引出最后一项内容 finally 在意义上与用法上与at last 有共同之处，但也有不同。

finally 既可指时间位置（相当于at last和in the end），也可指时间的先后顺序。

eg. Finally I’d like to thank you all for your coming . 最后我要感谢诸位的光临。（不能用at last）

to the end 应该是到底的意思， 可以记一个句子

Still to the end will be a vactory for youself. 坚持到底就是胜利

at the end 常与of连用 一般说来，at the end of可表示时间、地点，它也可以用来表示比喻意。

例： The school is situated at the end of the street． 该 位于这条街的尽头。

We'll have an exam in English at the end of January． 一月底我们要参 英语考试。

They were at the end of their patience． 他们忍 可忍。

简：at the end of 在时间或地点的尽头

in the end 后面不能 of，表示最后，相当于 at last 

on the end of 表示在某个物品的端头，不如说在桌子的另一端头。

经典考题：

1. My house stands              the end of the street .

    A. at B. in  C. by   D. on 

2. 在烟台正在建一个新工厂，我希望它能在今年末结束。

    A new factory is being built in Yanyai . I hope it will be finished                                             .

3.Chriamas Day comes              of December .

   A. in the end   B. at the end   C. by the end   D. to the end 

4. I felt a little tired               the end of the day .

   A. by B. in  C. at D. on

5.             the end of next month，I will finish reading this book   

   A. By B. In  C. At D. On

6.               the end of last month ,I had planted thousands of trees

    A. By B. In  C. At D. On

7. I was saved                the end .   

   A. by B. in  C. at D. on

keys:

1. A   2. at the end of this year .3. B 4. C 5. A 6.A  7. B