How they are the same

In many cases, finish and end both mean that something has stopped. 
• When the movie ended, everyone left the theater. 
• When the movie finished, everyone left the theater. 

How they are different 

End is typically the last or the farthest part of something. 
• The road ends in a cul-de-sac. (not finish) (V)
• I bumped my leg on the end of the table. (not finish) (N)

Finish often shows something is complete. 
• He finished all his food. (not ended) (V)
• She finished all her work last night. (not ended) 
• Hurry up and finish your dinner. (not end)

Grammar
Finish is often used as an adjective, but end is not. 
• I want the finished report on my desk tomorrow morning. 
• It’ll be finished soon. 

Finish + ing 
X She finished to read and went to sleep.
O She finished reading and went to sleep.
Notice “end” is not followed by the gerund or the infinitive.

Some common phrases 
• After a series of failures, his singing career was finished. (failed)
• This is a fight to the finish. (a very serious competition)
• Nice guys finish last. (nice guys aren’t successful)

• This race is incredibly difficult from start to finish. 
• This race is incredibly difficult from beginning to end. 

• We always say goodbye at the end of the day. (the last part of the day)
• We’re in the endgame now. (the last part of the game)
• And they lived happily ever after. The end. (the story is over)
• That contract came to an end in June. (stopped)
• He was so depressed he decided to end it all. (kill himself)
• I’m so stressed out. I’m at the end of my rope. (very stressed out)
• If you don’t give me the money I’ll end you! (kill)

(There are LOTS more.)

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