We use the verbsendandfinishin similar ways, to mean ‘come to a stop’:
I think that his contractendsthis month.
What time does the filmfinish?
We usefinishto say that we complete something that we are doing. It emphasises that the process stops within a specific period of time.Endwould not normally be used in these examples:
Hefinishedhis meal in just three minutes.
If we had the right tools, we couldfinishthe job by Friday this week.
Her brotherfinishedlast in the race.
We useendto say that stopping something is significant, and has a clear conclusion or shape.Finishwouldn’t normally be used in these examples:
The course of the riverendedin a delightful harbour with small sailing boats everywhere.
Many historians agree that the medieval period in Europeendedin the mid-sixteenth century.
Verbs thatendin -ed are usually in the past tense.
Finishcan be followed by the -ingform, but not by ato-infinitive:
They’vefinished playingthose computer games.
Not:They’ve finished to play…
I haven’tfinished dryingmy hair yet.
Not:I haven’t finished to dry…
Endcannot be followed by either ato-infinitive or the -ingform:
Call me when you’vefinished writingthe report.
Not:Call me when you’ve ended writing…