End and finish

These words have similar meanings, but there are some differences.

Finish + object

Finish is used to talk about getting to the end of something or completing an activity.

• Have you finished reading that novel?
• You never let me finish a sentence.

Note that finish can be followed by an –ing form.

End + object

End is used to talk about stopping or breaking something off.

• I have decided to end our affair.

End cannot be followed by an –ing form.

• I decided to stop seeing her. (NOT I decided to end seeing her.)

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