Acabar de + Infinitive: Just Did Something
Quick Answer: Conjugate 'acabar' in the present tense + 'de' + infinitive to express something that just happened. For 'had just' (further in the past), use acabar in the imperfect: 'acababa de.'
The simplest way to say you just did something
Category: Verb Tenses
The Rule
Conjugate 'acabar' in the present tense + 'de' + infinitive to express something that just happened. For 'had just' (further in the past), use acabar in the imperfect: 'acababa de.'
Why This Matters
English says 'I just ate,' using the past tense with 'just.' Spanish uses a completely different construction with the present tense of 'acabar' (to finish). This catches English speakers off guard.
Examples
• Acabo de comer. — "I just ate." [Present tense of acabar, not past] • Acabamos de llegar. — "We just arrived." [Plural subject] • Acaba de llamar tu madre. — "Your mother just called." [Third person] • Acababa de salir cuando llegó. — "He had just left when she arrived." [Imperfect for 'had just']
Common Mistakes
❌ Acabé de comer. (meaning 'I just ate') ✅ Acabo de comer. → Use the PRESENT tense of acabar for 'just did.' The preterite 'acabé de' means 'I finished doing,' which is different. ❌ Justo comí. ✅ Acabo de comer. → While 'justo' exists, Spanish doesn't use it like English 'just' for recent actions. Use 'acabar de.'
Quick Tip
acabar de = just did (present). acababa de = had just done (imperfect). Never use the preterite of acabar for this meaning.
acabar de = just did (present). acababa de = had just done (imperfect). Never use the preterite of acabar for this meaning.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Acabé de comer. (meaning 'I just ate') → Correct: Acabo de comer.. Use the PRESENT tense of acabar for 'just did.' The preterite 'acabé de' means 'I finished doing,' which is different.
Incorrect: Justo comí. → Correct: Acabo de comer.. While 'justo' exists, Spanish doesn't use it like English 'just' for recent actions. Use 'acabar de.'
Quiz
'They just left.' Which is correct?