ave you ever wondered how to say “I just ate” or “She had just left” in natural, everyday Spanish? While English often uses the present perfect, Spanish has a secret weapon for expressing the immediate past: Acabar de + Infinitive.
This simple construction is a cornerstone of fluent conversation, allowing you to emphasize the recency of an action with elegance and ease. In this complete guide, we’ll break down the formula, provide full conjugation charts, and show you how to sound more like a native speaker.
What Does “Acabar de + Infinitive” Mean?
The phrase “Acabar de + [infinitive verb]” directly translates to “to finish doing [something],” but its true, everyday meaning is “to have just done something.” It’s used exclusively for actions that happened a very short time ago.
The Core Formula:Subject + Conjugation of "Acabar" + "de" + Infinitive Verb
- Acabo de llegar. (I have just arrived.)
- Acaba de llover. (It has just rained.)
This construction is more common and often more natural than the present perfect tense (“He llegado”) for describing the very recent past in spoken Spanish.
The Two Key Tenses: Present & Imperfect
The magic of “acabar de” lies in using just two tenses of “acabar” to convey different time frames.
1. Present Tense of Acabar: “Have Just…”
Use the present tense of acabar to talk about something you or someone else has just done in the immediate past.
Conjugation of Acabar (Present Tense)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | acabo | I have just… |
| Tú | acabas | You have just… |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | acaba | He/She/You (formal) has just… |
| Nosotros | acabamos | We have just… |
| Vosotros | acabáis | You all (Spain) have just… |
| Ellos/Uds. | acaban | They/You all have just… |
Real-Life Examples:
- Acabo de ver tu mensaje. (I just saw your message.)
- Mi hermana acaba de salir de la universidad. (My sister just graduated from university.)
- ¿Acabas de despertarte? (Did you just wake up?)
- Los niños acaban de comer. (The children have just eaten.)
2. Imperfect Tense of Acabar: “Had Just…”
Use the imperfect tense of acabar to describe something you or someone else had just done at a specific point in the past. It often sets the scene for another past action.
Conjugation of Acabar (Imperfect Tense)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | acababa | I had just… |
| Tú | acababas | You had just… |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | acababa | He/She/You (formal) had just… |
| Nosotros | acabábamos | We had just… |
| Vosotros | acababais | You all (Spain) had just… |
| Ellos/Uds. | acababan | They/You all had just… |
Real-Life Examples:
- Acababa de salir cuando me llamaste. (I had just left when you called me.)
- Cuando llegamos, ellos acababan de llegar también. (When we arrived, they had just arrived too.)
- El tren acababa de irse cuando corrí a la estación. (The train had just left when I ran to the station.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Present Perfect Instead: While not always wrong, overusing “He comido” for “I just ate” can sound less natural than “Acabo de comer.”
- Confusing with “Acabar” Alone: Remember that “acabar” without “de” means “to finish” or “to end.”
- Acabo mi tarea. (I finish my homework.)
- Acabo de hacer mi tarea. (I have just done my homework.)
- Forgetting the “de”: The preposition “de” is essential and cannot be omitted.
Test Your Knowledge
Master Other Essential Spanish Structures
“Acabar de” is just one of many key Spanish verb constructions. Deepen your knowledge with our other guides:
- Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool – Practice conjugating any verb, including “acabar,” in all tenses.
- Tener Que + Infinitive – Learn to express obligation (“to have to”).
- Ir A + Infinitive – Master the simple future (“to be going to”).
- Volver A + Infinitive – Talk about doing something again.
Conclusion:
Mastering “Acabar de + Infinitive” is a simple yet powerful step towards fluency. By remembering the two-key-tense rule—present for “have just” and imperfect for “had just”—you can effortlessly talk about recent events and make your Spanish sound more authentic and natural. Start incorporating this phrase into your daily practice, and you’ll be using it like a native in no time!
