What Does “Acabar de” Mean?
“Acabar de” is a verb phrase in Spanish that means “to have just (done something).” It is used to indicate that an action has been completed very recently. Unlike the simple past, which might refer to any time in the past, “acabar de” puts emphasis on the immediacy of the action.
How to Form “Acabar de” in Spanish
The structure is straightforward:
- Acabar (conjugated) + de + infinitive
Here, “acabar” is conjugated according to the subject, “de” is a preposition, and the action verb remains in the infinitive form.
Examples of “Acabar de” in Use
- Yo acabo de comer. (I have just eaten.)
- Ella acaba de llegar. (She has just arrived.)
- Nosotros acabamos de terminar la tarea. (We have just finished the homework.)
Conjugating “Acabar” in the Present Tense
To use “acabar de” correctly, you need to conjugate “acabar” in the present tense:
- Yo acabo
- Tú acabas
- Él/Ella/Usted acaba
- Nosotros/as acabamos
- Vosotros/as acabáis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes acaban
Then, simply add “de” and the infinitive verb of the action.
When to Use “Acabar de”
Use “acabar de” when you want to emphasize that something happened only moments ago. This is especially helpful in conversations where timing is important, such as:
- Explaining why you are not hungry: Acabo de comer.
- Letting someone know someone else just left: Pedro acaba de salir.
- Describing recent events: Acabamos de recibir buenas noticias.
Common Mistakes with “Acabar de”
1. Forgetting the Infinitive: Remember, the verb after “de” must always be in its infinitive form. For example, say acabo de comer (not acabo de comí).
2. Using the Wrong Tense: “Acabar de” is most commonly used in the present tense to refer to actions that have just happened. However, you can also use it in the imperfect or past tenses to describe actions that had just happened at a certain point in the past.
- Cuando llegué, ellos acababan de salir. (When I arrived, they had just left.)
3. Confusing with the Simple Past: The simple past (pretérito) describes actions that happened at a definite point in the past, but “acabar de” specifically refers to actions that have just been completed.
Practice Makes Perfect
To get comfortable with “acabar de,” try using it in your daily Spanish practice. Think about things you’ve just done and describe them using this structure. For extra practice, you can use language learning tools like Talkpal to get instant feedback and more real-life examples.
Summary: Key Points to Remember
- “Acabar de” means “to have just (done something).”
- Structure: acabar (conjugated) + de + infinitive.
- Use it to talk about actions that have happened very recently.
- Always use the infinitive after “de.”
- Practice using it in context for better fluency.
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Learning to use expressions like “acabar de” can make your Spanish sound more natural and fluent. If you want to practice more and get personalized feedback, consider using Talkpal’s AI-powered language learning tools. With interactive lessons and real conversation practice, you can master not only “acabar de” but also many other essential Spanish structures. ¡Buena suerte!
