ON time and IN time

On time = punctual, not late. If something happens on time, it happens at the time which was planned:
• The 11.45 train left on time. (= it left at 11.45)
• 'I'll meet you at 7.30.' 'OK, but please be on time.' (= don't be late, be there at 7.30)
• The conference was well-organised. Everything began and finished on time.

The opposite of on time is late:
• Be on time. Don't be late.

In time (for something / to do something) = soon enough:
• Will you be home in time for dinner? ( = soon enough for dinner)
• I've sent Emma a birthday present. I hope it arrives in time (for her birthday). (= on or before her birthday)
• I'm in a hurry. I want to be home in time to see the game on television. (= soon enough to see the game)

The opposite of in time is too late:
• I got home too late to see the game on television.

You can say just in time (= almost too late):
• We got to the station just in time for our train.
• A child ran into the road in front of the car - I managed to stop just in time.

Exercises:

1. Complete the sentences with on time or in time:

1 The bus was late this morning, but it's usually on time .
2 The film was supposed to start at 8.30, but it didn't begin _________.
3 I like to get up _________ to have a big breakfast before going to work.
4 We want to start the meeting _________ , so please don't be late.
5 I've just washed this shirt. I want to wear it this evening, so I hope it will be dry _________.
6 The train service isn't very good. The trains are rarely _________.
7 I nearly missed my flight this morning. I got to the airport just _________.
8 I nearly forgot that it was Joe's birthday. Fortunately I remembered _________.
9 Why are you never _________? You always keep everybody waiting.

2. Read the situations and make sentences using just in time:

1 A child ran into the road in front of your car. You saw the child at the last moment.
(manage/stop) I managed to stop just in time.
2 You were walking home. Just after you got home, it started to rain very heavily.
(get / home) I ___________________________________
3 Tim was going to sit on the chair you had just painted. You said, 'Don't sit on that chair!', so he didn't.
(stop / him) I ____________________________________
4 You and a friend went to the cinema. You were late and you thought you would miss the beginning of the film. But the film began just as you sat down in the cinema.
(get / cinema / beginning of the film) ____________________________________