in time/on time again

[englishhobby]

I know the main difference between in time and on time. I only want to add to my knowledge what native speakers would feel about the following situation:

The French class starts at 9 on Monday. Ben is always on time for the class. Joe is always in time for the class.

The question is: Who comes earlier?
To me it seems that Joe (who is always in time) comes a little earlier (say, 5-10 minutes to 9) than Ben and Ben (who is always on time) comes at 9 sharp (or 1 minute to 9). Is it so? :-?

Who is better organised - Ben or Joe? What can you say about their character? Are they both punctual? (Such comment really could help me understand the difference even better.)

 

[emsr2d2]

In that situation, it's impossible to tell who comes earlier. Being "on time" and "in time" for a 9am class is the same thing. It simply means you're not late.

Ben arrives exactly on time for the class. (He arrives at 9am.)
Joe is always in time for the class. (He arrives at some time before 9.01am.)

 

[tzfujimino]

Being "on time" and "in time" for a 9am class is the same thing. It simply means you're not late.

Ben arrives exactly on time for the class. (He arrives at 9am.)

Do you mean we need an adverb such as 'exactly' or 'right' to mean "He arrives at 9am sharp/at exactly 9am"?
(Just saying "He arrives on time [...]" doesn't convey that meaning?)
Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

If someone said to me "Jane is very dependable. She always turns up for work on time", I would not assume that she walked in the door at exactly 9am (if 9am was her official start time). I would simply assume that she is never late.

 

[englishhobby]

And John is very (????) He always turns up for work in time.
Lucky?
Or in this situation "in time" shouldn't be used?

 

[Rover_KE]

John is very punctual. He always turns up for work on time.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

John is very obsessive-compulsive. He always turns up for work in time to grab a coffee before his shift starts.

 

[emsr2d2]

I might have missed a joke but that's not a sign of OCD. That's just what keeps most people sane!

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

There may have been a feeble attempt at humour, but the underlying point was that 'in time' often means 'in time for something'.