Acabar de + Infinitivo in Spanish

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In Spanish, the phrase “Acabar de + infinitivo” is a common and useful construction that allows speakers to express that an action has just been completed. It translates to “to have just done something” in English. This structure is widely used in everyday conversations and is essential for anyone learning Spanish to master. Whether you’re talking about finishing a meal, completing a task, or arriving somewhere, “Acabar de + infinitivo” is a go-to phrase.

In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this construction, including common expressions, conjugation rules, and practical examples.

Common Expressions Using Acabar de + Infinitivo

Here’s a list of common expressions using “Acabar de + infinitivo” that you’ll hear in daily Spanish conversations:

Acabar de comer – To have just eaten
Acabar de llegar – To have just arrived
Acabar de terminar – To have just finished
Acabar de hablar – To have just spoken
Acabar de salir – To have just left
Acabar de escribir – To have just written
Acabar de limpiar – To have just cleaned
Acabar de estudiar – To have just studied
Acabar de trabajar – To have just worked
Acabar de ducharse – To have just showered

These expressions are used frequently in everyday life, making them essential for conversational Spanish.

Things to Keep in Mind

When using “Acabar de + infinitivo”, there are a few key points to remember:

No Articles Needed: Unlike other constructions, you don’t need to use articles (el, la, los, las) before the infinitive verb.
Example: Acabo de comer (I have just eaten) – Not Acabo de la comer.
Gender and Plurality: The verb “acabar” conjugates according to the subject, but the infinitive verb remains unchanged regardless of gender or number.
Example: Ella acaba de comer (She has just eaten) / Ellos acaban de comer (They have just eaten).
Tense Consistency: “Acabar de + infinitivo” is primarily used in the present tense to describe recent actions. However, it can also be used in the past tense to indicate that something had just happened.
Example: Acababa de salir (I had just left).
Reflexive Verbs: If the infinitive verb is reflexive, the reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject.
Example: Acabo de ducharme (I have just showered).

When to Use Acabar de + Infinitivo

The construction “Acabar de + infinitivo” is used in the following situations:

To Describe Recent Actions: It’s used to talk about something that just happened.
Example: Acabo de ver a María (I have just seen María).
To Emphasize Timing: It highlights that an action was completed very recently.
Example: Acaban de llegar cuando empezó a llover (They had just arrived when it started to rain).
In Narratives: It’s often used in storytelling to indicate the sequence of events.
Example: Acababa de salir de casa cuando sonó el teléfono (I had just left the house when the phone rang).

Conjugation

Regular Verbs

The verb “acabar” is conjugated according to the subject, while the infinitive verb remains in its base form. Here’s how to conjugate “acabar” in the present tense:

Pronoun	Conjugation
Yo	acabo
Tú	acabas
Él/Ella/Usted	acaba
Nosotros/Nosotras	acabamos
Vosotros/Vosotras	acabáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	acaban

Examples:

Yo acabo de comer (I have just eaten).
Ellos acaban de llegar (They have just arrived).

Irregular Verbs

While “acabar” itself is a regular verb, some infinitive verbs used with it may be irregular. However, since the infinitive form is used, there’s no need to worry about irregular conjugations. The focus remains on conjugating “acabar” correctly.

List of Verbs in Acabar de + Infinitivo

Verb (Infinitive)	Example Sentence 1	Meaning	Example Sentence 2	Meaning
Comer	Acabo de comer.	I have just eaten.	Ellos acaban de comer.	They have just eaten.
Llegar	Acabas de llegar.	You have just arrived.	Ella acaba de llegar.	She has just arrived.
Terminar	Acabamos de terminar.	We have just finished.	Usted acaba de terminar.	You have just finished.
Hablar	Acabo de hablar.	I have just spoken.	Ellos acaban de hablar.	They have just spoken.
Salir	Acabas de salir.	You have just left.	Nosotros acabamos de salir.	We have just left.
Escribir	Acabo de escribir.	I have just written.	Ellas acaban de escribir.	They have just written.
Limpiar	Acabas de limpiar.	You have just cleaned.	Él acaba de limpiar.	He has just cleaned.
Estudiar	Acabo de estudiar.	I have just studied.	Ustedes acaban de estudiar.	You have just studied.
Trabajar	Acabas de trabajar.	You have just worked.	Ellos acaban de trabajar.	They have just worked.
Ducharse	Acabo de ducharme.	I have just showered.	Ella acaba de ducharse.	She has just showered.

More Example Sentences

Acabo de ver una película. (I have just watched a movie.)
Acabas de perder tu oportunidad. (You have just missed your chance.)
Él acaba de comprar un coche nuevo. (He has just bought a new car.)
Nosotros acabamos de limpiar la casa. (We have just cleaned the house.)
Ellos acaban de ganar el partido. (They have just won the game.)
Acabo de recibir una noticia importante. (I have just received important news.)
Ella acaba de terminar su tarea. (She has just finished her homework.)
Usted acaba de llegar a tiempo. (You have just arrived on time.)
Acabamos de conocer a nuestros vecinos. (We have just met our neighbors.)
Ellas acaban de salir de la reunión. (They have just left the meeting.)

Fill in the Blanks

Yo _______ de comer. (acabar)
Tú _______ de llegar. (acabar)
Él _______ de terminar su trabajo. (acabar)
Nosotros _______ de limpiar la casa. (acabar)
Ellos _______ de estudiar para el examen. (acabar)
Ella _______ de ducharse. (acabar)
Usted _______ de hablar con el jefe. (acabar)
Vosotros _______ de salir del cine. (acabar)
Ellas _______ de escribir una carta. (acabar)
Yo _______ de ver una película interesante. (acabar)

Answers:

acabo
acabas
acaba
acabamos
acaban
acaba
acaba
acabáis
acaban
acabo

Conclusion

Mastering “Acabar de + infinitivo” is a game-changer for anyone learning Spanish. It’s a simple yet powerful construction that allows you to express recent actions with ease. By understanding its conjugation, usage, and common expressions, you’ll be able to incorporate it seamlessly into your conversations. Practice with the examples and exercises provided, and soon enough, you’ll be using “Acabar de + infinitivo” like a native speaker! ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

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Imperative Mode in Spanish

Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido) in Spanish

Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto) in Spanish

Future Simple Tense in Spanish

Spanish Conditional Tense (Condicional Simple)

Present Perfect Tense (Pretérito Perfecto de Indicativo) in Spanish

Understanding the Subjunctive Mood in Spanish

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Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto (Past Perfect) in Spanish

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