acabar de + Infinitive
Just Done: Acabar De
Acabar de + infinitive means to have just done something: Acabo de chegar (I have just arrived), O tren acaba de saír (The train has just left).
How It Works
Present means have just: Acabamos de comer (We have just eaten). English uses a perfect tense here, but Galician uses the present of acabar.
Copretérito means had just: Acababa de saír cando chamaches. Use the copretérito of acabar for a moment just before another past event.
Finishing: acabar de can also mean to finish doing something, like rematar de: Cando acabes de comer, imos (When you finish eating, we will go). In the preterite it often has this meaning: Acabei de ler o libro (I finished reading the book).
With pronouns: a pronoun usually attaches to the infinitive: Acabo de velo (I have just seen him). Note the form lo after -r; see lo and la after -r.
Without de: acabar + a noun means to finish something: Acabei o traballo (I finished the work).
Related: for something further back, use hai + time. For an ordinary finished action, use the preterite.
Examples (5)
- Acabo de chegar.
I have just arrived.
Word by Word: Finish-I of to-arrive.
- O tren acaba de saír.
The train has just left.
Word by Word: The train finishes of to-leave.
- Acabamos de comer, grazas.
We have just eaten, thanks.
Word by Word: Finish-we of to-eat, thanks.
- Acababa de saír cando chamaches.
She had just gone out when you called.
Word by Word: Finished-she of to-go-out when called-you.
The copretérito means had just.
- Acabo de velo na rúa.
I have just seen him in the street.
Word by Word: Finish-I of to-see-him in-the street.
ver + o = velo.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out de.
Acabo chegar.Acabo de chegar.The phrase is always acabar + de + infinitive.
Using a participle after acabar de, copying English have just arrived.
Acabo de chegado.Acabo de chegar.Acabar de is followed by the infinitive, not the participle.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Acabar de places an action just before the reference time.
Related Patterns
- Using the Preterite for Completed Actions
The ordinary way to talk about a finished action.
Level 2 - hai / fai + TimeTime Ago: Hai and Fai
Says how long ago something happened.
Level 2 - deixar de + InfinitiveStopping: Deixar De
Another verb + de + infinitive phrase, meaning to stop doing.
Level 3 - comezar a / poñerse aStarting Actions
Phrases for starting an action.
Level 3 - ir + InfinitiveGoing to: Ir + Infinitive
A phrase for the near future, the opposite direction in time.
Level 2 - lo, la After -r and -sPronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s
Explains forms such as velo after an infinitive.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice acabar de + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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