{"id":143286,"date":"2024-01-23T02:20:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T07:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/acabar\/"},"modified":"2025-02-23T22:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T03:38:24","slug":"acabar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/acabar\/","title":{"rendered":"“Acabar” in Spanish: Meaning, Conjugation and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acabar<\/i> can be a challenging verb to learn in Spanish, but one that comes with lots of rewards.\u00a0Acabar<\/em> literally means “to finish” or “to end,” but it can convey a few different meanings depending on how it’s used and you’ll probably see it quite often.<\/p>\n

With explanations of the verb’s various uses, examples and tips on practicing, this guide will help you get the hang of\u00a0acabar,\u00a0<\/em>and have fun doing it!<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Does the Verb Acabar <\/em>Mean in Spanish?<\/h2>\n

Acabar <\/em> directly translates to “to end” or “to finish,” but is slightly different from terminar\u00a0<\/em>(to end).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Acabar<\/i> is most commonly used to express having just done something in the recent past. Depending on the preposition used with acabar, <\/i>the meaning can change.<\/p>\n

What is the Difference Between Acabar<\/em> and Terminar?<\/em><\/h2>\n

While both acabar<\/em> and terminar<\/em> generally mean “to finish” or “to end,” they can be used in slightly different contexts.<\/p>\n

Acabar<\/em> often implies the completion of an action or task, while terminar<\/em> can be used more broadly and may also give the idea of concluding a process or ending up at a final state.\u00a0 In practical terms, they are often interchangeable, but which one you choose depends on the nuance you want to convey.<\/p>\n

Keep reading to learn more about four of the main uses of the verb acabar <\/em>in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Main Uses of Acabar<\/em> in Spanish<\/h2>\n

Here are the four different ways to use this verb and how the meaning changes with the way it’s formed.<\/p>\n

1. Acabarse <\/em>(“To use up” or “To run its course”)
\n<\/em><\/h3>\n

As a reflexive verb<\/a>, acabarse\u00a0<\/i>means “to use up,” “to run its course” or\u00a0“to die.”<\/p>\n

When a verb is reflexive, it means that the action of the verb remains with the subject. For example, if a concert ends or your perfume runs out, the reflexive form of acabar<\/i> must be used. For example:<\/p>\n

El concierto se acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00f3. <\/i><\/strong><\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/strong>(The concert ended.)<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you finish your homework, it isn’t your homework itself that has ended, but rather you’ve finished it, so you’d use the regular form of acabar: <\/i><\/p>\n

Yo acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00e9<\/strong> mi tarea.<\/i> (I finished my homework.)<\/p>\n

Conjugating Acabarse <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the reflexive form, the verb is conjugated<\/a> the same, only an object pronoun is replaced before the conjugated form of the verb or after the infinitive.<\/p>\n

Below is a conjugation chart for acabarse <\/i>in the preterite<\/a> form (its most common use):<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Subject<\/th>Reflexive Pronoun<\/th>Conjugation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yo<\/td>Me<\/td>Acab\u00e9 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T\u00fa<\/td>Te<\/td>Acabaste <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted<\/td>Se<\/td>Acab\u00f3 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nosotros<\/td>Nos<\/td>Acabamos <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vosotros<\/td>Os<\/td>Acabasteis <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes<\/td>Se<\/td>Acabaron <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

Here are some examples of the use of acabarse:<\/i><\/p>\n

Los boletos se acabaron<\/strong>\u00a0hace una semana. <\/i>(The tickets sold out a week ago.)<\/p>\n

\u00c9l se acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00f3<\/strong> cuatro d<\/i>\u00edas antes de su cumplea\u00f1os.<\/i> <\/i>(He died four days before his birthday.)<\/p>\n

La pel\u00edcula se acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00f3<\/strong> cuando la pareja se reuni\u00f3.<\/i> <\/i>(The movie ended when the couple reunited.)<\/p>\n

2. Acabar de<\/em> + Infinitive (“To have just finished”)<\/h3>\n

Acabar de<\/i> + infinitive is used to describe something that just happened in the recent past<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The English equivalent of acabar de + infinitivo\u00a0<\/i>would be “to have just finished doing something.”<\/p>\n

To use acabar<\/em> effectively in this situation, the preposition de <\/i>must be used.\u00a0In English, the past participle of the verb is used, but in Spanish an infinitive is used instead.<\/p>\n

The present tense of acabar de + infinitivo<\/i> is used for describing something that just happened in the immediate past.<\/p>\n

These events are so recent, that they almost happened in the present tense.<\/p>\n

To speak of things that happened further in the past (the past perfect tense in English), the imperfect past tense is used in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Conjugating Acabar de<\/em> + Infinitive<\/strong><\/p>\n

Conjugating acabar de<\/i> in the most recent past requires the present tense<\/a> of the verb. This table shows this conjugation using comer<\/em> as the infinitive to say “just ate”:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Subject<\/th>Conjugation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yo<\/td>Acabo de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T\u00fa<\/td>Acabas de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted<\/td>Acaba de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nosotros<\/td>Acabamos de<\/strong>comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vosotros<\/td>Acabais de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes<\/td>Acaban de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

Conjugating acabar de <\/i>in the more distant past requires the imperfect past tense of the verb. This table demonstrates this form, so as to say “had just ate:”<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Subject<\/th>Conjugation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yo<\/td>Acababa de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T\u00fa<\/td>Acababas de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted<\/td>Acababa de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nosotros<\/td>Acab\u00e1bamos de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vosotros<\/td>Acababais de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes<\/td>Acababan de<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

Here are some examples of how it can be used in the present and imperfect past tenses.<\/p>\n

Present:<\/p>\n

Yo acabo de<\/strong> escribir. <\/i>(I just finished writing.)<\/p>\n

Ella acaba de<\/strong> comer. \u00a0<\/i>(She just finished eating.)<\/p>\n

Past:<\/p>\n

T\u00fa acababas de<\/strong> leer.<\/em>\u00a0(You had just finished reading.)<\/p>\n

Ellos acababan de<\/strong> jugar<\/i>. (They had just finished playing.)<\/p>\n

3. Acabar por<\/em> + Infinitive (“Finally did” or “ended up doing”)<\/h3>\n

When using acabar <\/i>with the preposition por<\/i>, the meaning changes slightly.<\/p>\n

Acabar por + infinitivo <\/i>is used to express finally doing something or ending up doing something that perhaps wasn\u2019t initially expected.<\/p>\n

Because it refers to something that happened in the past, the preterite tense is used.<\/p>\n

Conjugating Acabar por<\/em> + Infinitive<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the case of acabar por, <\/i>the preterite tense is always used, as shown below to say “finally ate”<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Subject<\/th>Conjugation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yo<\/td>Acab\u00e9 por<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T\u00fa<\/td>Acabaste por<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted<\/td>Acab\u00f3 por<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nosotros<\/td>Acabamos por<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vosotros<\/td>Acabasteis por<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes<\/td>Acabaron por<\/strong> comer <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

Below are some examples of how to use acabar por + infinitivo <\/i>in the context of ending up doing something and doing something:<\/p>\n

To finally do something:<\/p>\n

Yo acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00e9<\/strong> por<\/strong> llegar a mi casa.<\/i> <\/i>(I finally arrived at home.)<\/p>\n

Usted acab<\/i><\/strong>\u00f3<\/strong> por<\/strong> bailar <\/i><\/i>\u00a0conmigo. <\/i>(You finally danced with me.)<\/p>\n

To end up doing something:<\/p>\n

Nosotros acabamos<\/strong> por<\/strong> ir en\u00a0tren. <\/i>(We ended up taking the train.)<\/p>\n

Ellos acabaron<\/strong> por<\/strong> comer pollo en lugar de res. <\/i>(They ended up eating chicken instead of beef.)<\/p>\n

4. Acabar con<\/em> algo <\/em>(“To have ended something” or “to have ruined something”)
\n<\/em><\/h3>\n

Acabar con algo <\/i>means “to have ended,” “to have ruined” or “to have destroyed” someone or something.<\/p>\n

While the preposition con <\/i>literally translates to “with,”<\/i> in this case it simply translates to “to have ended something.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

This form of acabar <\/i>is also used in the preterite tense.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conjugating\u00a0Acabar con (algo)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the case of acabar con, <\/i>the preterite tense is most often used, as shown below:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Subject<\/th>Conjugation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yo<\/td>Acab\u00e9 con<\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T\u00fa<\/td>Acabaste con<\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted<\/td>Acab\u00f3 con<\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nosotros<\/td>Acabamos con<\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vosotros<\/td>Acabasteis con<\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes<\/td>Acabaron con<\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

Listed here are some examples of how to use acabar con <\/i> to describe having just ended, ruined or destroyed a person, place or thing:<\/p>\n

Ese tiro acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00f3 con<\/strong> el juego.<\/i> <\/i>(That shot ended the game.)<\/p>\n

T<\/i>\u00fa <\/i>acabaste con<\/strong> nuestro matrimonio. <\/i> <\/i>(You destroyed our marriage.)<\/p>\n

La lluvia acab<\/strong><\/i>\u00f3 con<\/strong> nuestro picnic.<\/i> <\/i>(The rain ruined our picnic.)<\/p>\n

Quick Tips for Fully Learning\u00a0Acabar<\/em><\/h2>\n