Question

In Continuous (past, present or future tense) the phrasal verb "To End Up" and the verb "To BE" are interchangeable?  Correct me, pls.       

 

1. The day was fast approaching when the money would run out. 

1. The day ended up fast approaching when the money would run out. 

 

2. He came round for a coffee, and we were having a meal together.

2. He came round for a coffee, and we ended up having a meal together.

 

3. Most slimmers are putting weight back on

3. Most slimmers end up putting weight back on.

 

4. Whenever we go out to dinner with them, I am always paying the bill.

4. Whenever we go out to dinner with them, I always end up paying the bill.

 

5. If you keep going outside in this weather without shoes, you'll be catching a cold.

5. If you keep going outside in this weather without shoes, you'll end up catching a cold.

Answer 1

As a native English speaker, all of those sentences sounded okay. Only first use of "ended up" sounded a little odd to me. I will clarify though that "to end up" does add a bit more of a negative connotation / emphasis to the sentence. As in, this was not how it was meant to be, but it was how it "ended up". Also, "to end up" sounds more informal or slang but it's certainly still acceptable grammatically.