The Construction "Acabar de + Infinitive" (to have just done something)
Spanish: La perífrasis "Acabar de + infinitivo"
Level: B2 Upper-Intermediate
Category: constructions
Explanation
The construction "acabar de + infinitive" is used to express an action that finished a very short time ago, that is, the recent or immediate past. It corresponds to the English "to have just done something". For example, "Acabo de llegar" means that I arrived only moments ago. This construction is formed with the verb "acabar" conjugated + the preposition "de" + an infinitive. "Acabar" is the only verb that changes according to person and tense, while the main action always stays in the infinitive: "Acabamos de comer" (We have just eaten), "Maria acaba de salir" (Maria has just left). Regarding tense, "acabar de" is used almost exclusively in the present tense (an action that has just happened relative to the moment of speaking) or in the imperfect (an action that had just happened relative to a past moment): "Cuando llamaste, acababa de despertarme" (When you called, I had just woken up). Other tenses are very rarely used with this recent-past meaning. It is important not to confuse this construction with "acabar" used as a full verb meaning "to finish": "Acabo el trabajo" (I finish the work) is different from "Acabo de trabajar" (I have just finished working a moment ago). The preposition "de" followed by an infinitive is the key to the recent-past construction.
Examples
- Acabo de llegar a Madrid. - I have just arrived in Madrid.
- Lo siento, el café acaba de cerrar. - Sorry, the cafe has just closed.
- Acabamos de pedir la cuenta. - We have just asked for the bill.
- La farmacia acaba de abrir, puedes entrar. - The pharmacy has just opened, you can go in.
- ¡Qué pena!, el tren acaba de salir. - What a shame, the train has just left.