in time/on time

[Mad-ox]

hi,

If we take a cab we might get there..........to hear his speach.

in time/on time,

m

[Anglika]

in time

[Mad-ox]

Are you sure? As I found in a Grammar book ''on time''. I'm perplexed about this.

[Yomaris]

I think the correct answer is On time

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Mad-ox

Are you sure? As I found in a Grammar book ''on time''. I'm perplexed about this.

Yes: in time for an appointment; on time for a scheduled event.

We wanted to get there in time for the meeting

We wanted to get to the airport on time; our flight left at 13.30


Of course, there's a degree of overlap - you may have an implied appointment to catch a particular flight:

We wanted to get to the airport in time for our flight

That last example points up a helpful usage point: 'in time' is often followed by for + noun.

b

[Philly]

Originally Posted by Mad-ox

hi,
If we take a cab we might get there..........to hear his speech.
in time/on time,
m

In my book, the only possible correct answer for your sentence is in time.
.
Saying 'on time' in your sentence would cause massive pain and possibly even permanent damage to my eardrums.
.
.
'On time' means 'punctual' -- at a scheduled or planned time. You can also be 'on time' for an appointment.
.
'In time' means 'not too late' or 'early enough in order to do something or not miss something':
We arrived in time for dessert. (i.e. We missed dinner, but we weren't too late for dessert.)
.

[Mad-ox]

My dictionary says:

on time=exactly at a stated time

in time= ahead of a stated time


But I still can not decide which one is correct for the sentence above.

m

[Philly]

.
in time
.
I've done two BNC searches:
"In time to" gets 559 results
"On time to" gets only 7 results.
.
I'd say that's pretty convincing.

[Anglika]

If we take a taxi, we might/will arrive there in time to hear his speech. If we walk, we will be too late.


We need to take a cab to be on time for his speech.



I feel there is a difference in causality between the two.

[retro]

Originally Posted by BobK

We wanted to get to the airport in time for our flight

That last example points up a helpful usage point: 'in time' is often followed by for + noun.

b

Originally Posted by Anglika

If we take a taxi, we might/will arrive there in time to hear his speech. If we walk, we will be too late.


We need to take a cab to be on time for his speech.



I feel there is a difference in causality between the two.

Do you mean your example highlighted in green is incorrect?