Acabar Conjugation in Spanish

Overview

Acabar is an essential Spanish verb meaning “to finish, to end, to complete.” Classified as a regular AR verb, it ranks among the top 100 Spanish verbs. Explore its conjugation across 18 major Spanish tenses in the sections below.

Verbs similar to acabar are: apurar, terminar, cesar, completar.

Present Tense of Acabar

The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or are generally true. Here is how “acabar” is conjugated in the present tense, with examples:

Examples:

• Yo acabo mi trabajo a las cinco de la tarde.
• ¿Tú acabas esa tarea hoy?
• Ellos acaban su proyecto mañana.

Preterite Tense of Acabar

The preterite tense is used to discuss actions that were completed in the past. Here’s the conjugation for “acabar” in the preterite tense, with examples:

Examples:

• Ellos acabaron la cena hace una hora.
• ¿Acabaste el libro que te presté?
• Acabamos la reunión al mediodía.

Imperfect Tense of Acabar

The imperfect tense describes past actions that were ongoing or habitual. Here is how “acabar” is conjugated in the imperfect tense, accompanied by examples:

Examples:

• Cuando era niño, siempre acababa mi tarea después de la cena.
• ¿Acababas tus deberes antes de jugar?
• Ellos acababan de estudiar cuando los llamé.

(And so on for the other tenses…)

Conjugation of “Acabar” in the Present Indicative

The Present Indicative tense of “acabar” is utilized to describe ongoing actions, current states, and facts. It conveys what someone is doing right now or in the immediate future. For example, “acabo” means “I finish.”

In Spanish, this tense is called “El Presente.”

Examples:

1. Cada día, yo acabo mi tarea antes de cenar.
2. ¿Tú acabas tus responsabilidades antes de salir?
3. Los estudiantes siempre acaban sus proyectos a tiempo.

Acabar in the Simple Past Tense

The Simple Past Tense of “acabar” is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. For instance, “acabé” translates to “I finished.”

In Spanish, the Simple Past Tense is referred to as “El Pretérito Indefinido.”

Examples in Spanish:

1. Yo acabé de leer el libro anoche.
2. ¿Tú acabaste el proyecto a tiempo?
3. Ellas acabaron sus tareas temprano hoy.

Acabar’s Conjugation in the Imperfect Tense

The Imperfect tense for the verb “acabar” is used to convey actions that were routine or habitual in the past. It can also express past conditions and settings without focusing on their beginning or end. For example, “acababa,” translates to “I used to finish.”

Examples:

1. Cuando era niño, siempre acababa mis deberes antes de cenar.
2. Acababas de limpiar la casa cuando llegaron los invitados.
3. Mis abuelos acababan de contar historias en la chimenea todas las noches.

Acabar in the Present Progressive Form

The Present Progressive tense of the verb “acabar” in Spanish is employed to indicate actions that are currently ongoing or happening in the moment. For example, “estoy acabando” translates to “I am finishing.”

In Spanish, this conjugation form is referred to as “El Presente Progresivo.”

Examples in Spanish:

1. Estoy acabando el informe ahora mismo.
2. María está acabando de leer su libro favorito.
3. Estamos acabando de preparar la cena para la fiesta.

Acabar in the Future Tense of the Informal Environment

The Future Tense in its Informal form for the verb acabar is utilized to describe actions that are intended to occur shortly. This tense is particularly useful for expressing future plans or intentions. For instance, “voy a acabar” translates to “I am going to finish”.

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Futuro Próximo”.

Example Sentences:

1. Yo voy a acabar mi tarea antes de la cena. (I am going to finish my homework before dinner.)
2. Ellos van a acabar el proyecto mañana por la tarde. (They are going to finish the project tomorrow afternoon.)
3. Nosotros vamos a acabar de ver la película este fin de semana. (We are going to finish watching the movie this weekend.)

Indicative Future Form of Acabar

The Indicative Future tense for the verb acabar outlines an action or event that is set to occur at a later point in time. For instance, “acabaré” translates to “I will finish.”

In Spanish grammar, this tense is titled “El Futuro Simple.”

Examples:

1. Mañana acabaré el libro que estoy leyendo.
2. Tú acabarás tu trabajo antes de las tres.
3. Esta tarde ellos acabarán la obra de teatro.

Exploring the Conditional Tense in Spanish: The Verb “Acabar”

In Spanish, the Conditional Indicative is used to express actions that might happen in the future based on certain conditions or to express polite requests or hypothetical situations. Here is how you conjugate “acabar” in the Conditional tense (El Condicional Simple).

Examples in Spanish:

1. Si tuviera más tiempo, acabaría ese libro hoy.
2. Estoy seguro de que ellos acabarían el proyecto si tuvieran los recursos necesarios.
3. ¿Crees que tú acabarías el trabajo si empezaras ahora?

Acabar in the Indicative Present Perfect

In the Indicative Present Perfect tense, “acabar” is utilized to indicate actions that have recently been completed or events that have just occurred. This tense is perfect for discussing unfinished narratives or recent activities. For example, “he acabado” translates to “I have finished.”

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Pretérito Perfecto.”

Examples:

1. Yo he acabado de leer el libro.
2. Ellos han acabado sus tareas antes de la cena.
3. Nosotros hemos acabado de ver la película.

”Acabar” in the Indicative Past Perfect Tense

The Indicative Past Perfect tense in Spanish describes actions that were completed before another past event. This tense, also known as “El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto,” functions similarly to the Past Perfect in English. Consider the phrase “había acabado,” which translates to “I had finished.” Below is the conjugation chart for this tense:

Example Sentences in Spanish:

1. Cuando llegué al cine, la película ya había acabado.

   • When I arrived at the cinema, the movie had already finished.

2. Él había acabado su tarea antes de que empezara la cena.

   • He had finished his homework before dinner began.

3. Nosotros ya habíamos acabado de limpiar cuando llegaron los invitados.

   • We had already finished cleaning when the guests arrived.

Acabar in the Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect tense in Spanish is used to describe actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future. In English, it corresponds to expressions like “I will have finished.”

Below is the conjugation for “acabar” in the Future Perfect tense, known in Spanish as “El Futuro Perfecto”.

Examples of usage in Spanish:

1. Para cuando llegues, habré acabado la tarea.
2. Nosotros habremos acabado de pintar la casa antes del domingo.
3. Ellos habrán acabado su trabajo para fin de mes.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Present

The Present Subjunctive of “acabar” is used to express desires, doubts, wishes, conjectures, and possibilities. For example, you might wish for something to end by saying “quiero que [algo] acabe”.

Examples in Spanish:

• Espero que él acabe su tarea antes de la cena.
• Es importante que nosotros acabemos lo que empezamos.
• Dudo que ellos acaben a tiempo.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Imperfect

The Imperfect Subjunctive of “acabar” is used to refer to past events that are not factual or to make polite requests. An example is, “si yo acabara”, meaning “if I were to finish”.

Examples in Spanish:

• Si él acabara a tiempo, podríamos irnos juntos.
• Me alegraría que nosotros acabáramos temprano.
• Si vosotros acabarais los trabajos, ganaría el equipo.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Future

The Future Subjunctive of “acabar” is seldom used in modern Spanish, but it can appear in literature or legal documents to talk about things that might happen in the future under certain circumstances.

Examples in Spanish:

• Cuando él acabare su parte, comenzaremos la mía.
• Ellos estarán listos para partir tan pronto como acabaren.
• Haclo bien para que tú acabare con el mejor resultado.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Present Perfect

The Present Perfect Subjunctive of “acabar” combines the subjunctive mood with the perfect aspect to express actions that were completed in the past but are relevant to the present or future.

Examples in Spanish:

• Me alegra que hayas acabado la prueba antes del plazo.
• Dudo que él haya acabado el proyecto sin ayuda.
• Espero que ustedes hayan acabado con éxito.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Past Perfect

The Past Perfect Subjunctive also known as the Pluperfect Subjunctive of “acabar” is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, often alongside the conditional perfect.

Examples in Spanish:

• Si ella hubiera acabado a tiempo, no habríamos tenido problemas.
• Me habría encantado que ustedes hubieran acabado el curso.
• Si tú hubieras acabado antes, podríamos haber salido.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect

The Future Perfect Subjunctive is even less common in modern Spanish but is used in archaic or formal expression to refer to actions that will have been completed in the future under specific conditions.

Examples in Spanish:

• Si él hubiere acabado para el viernes, podremos continuar.
• Para cuando ellos hubieren acabado, ya habrá pasado el evento.
• Espero que tú hubieres acabado el informe al completar el contrato.

Acabar Conjugation: Subjunctive Present

The Present Subjunctive is utilized in Spanish when discussing matters involving doubt, uncertainty, or emotions such as hopes, wishes, and desires. Unlike the indicative mood, the present subjunctive expresses hypothetical or non-real situations. An example is “acabe,” translated as “I finish.”

In Spanish, this conjugation form is referred to as “El Presente de Subjuntivo.”

Example Sentences:

1. Espero que ella acabe su tarea pronto.
2. Es posible que nosotros acabemos el proyecto esta semana.
3. Quiero que tú acabes de comer antes de salir.

Acabar in the Past Subjunctive

The Past Subjunctive tense, also known as Imperfect Subjunctive, is imperative when expressing hypothetical situations, wishes, or uncertainty about events in the past. For instance, “acabara,” translates to “I finished” in contexts where completion is uncertain or speculative.

Example Sentences:

1. Esperaba que él acabara el proyecto.
2. Si tú acabaras la tarea a tiempo, podríamos salir.
3. Mis amigos querían que yo acabara el libro antes de hablar de él.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Future

The Subjunctive Future is employed to discuss possible future events that are uncertain or hypothetical. For instance, “acabare,” which translates to “I will finish.”

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is referred to as “El Futuro de Subjuntivo.”

Example sentences in Spanish:

1. Espero que él acabare esa tarea antes de que llegues.
2. Si acabaren sus estudios, tendrán muchas oportunidades.
3. Nosotros queremos asegurarnos antes de que vosotras acabareis el proyecto.

Acabar in the Present Perfect Subjunctive

The Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish is a tense used to express doubts, emotions, desires, or hypothetical situations about actions that have been completed up to the present. It can also be used when referring to actions expected to be completed in the future. For example, “haya acabado” means “I have finished.”

In Spanish, this tense is called “El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo.”

Examples in Spanish:

1. Es posible que él haya acabado sus tareas antes de la cena.
2. Espero que hayas acabado el libro que te presté.
3. Aunque hayamos acabado, no podemos irnos todavía.

Utilizing Acabar in the Past Perfect Subjunctive

The Past Perfect Subjunctive is an important construction in Spanish used to express hypothetical scenarios or actions that took place prior to another past occurrence. For instance, “hubiera acabado” translates to “I had finished.”

In Spanish, this form is referred to as “El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo.”

Examples in Spanish:

1. Ojalá hubiera acabado la tarea antes de salir.
2. Dudaba que vosotros hubierais acabado de leer el libro.
3. Si ellos hubieran acabado la presentación, habría sido un éxito.

Acabar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect Tense

The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to describe actions that are expected to have occurred in future hypothetical scenarios. For instance, “hubiere acabado” can be translated to “I will have finished.”

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo.”

Example Sentences:

• Espero que, para cuando llegues, yo hubiere acabado la tarea.
• Es probable que para entonces tú hubieres acabado el proyecto.
• Si todo sale bien, ellos hubieren acabado la construcción a tiempo.

Commands (Imperatives) of Acabar

Authored text for this section goes here, maintaining a consistent tone and style with the rest of the content.

Using Acabar in Affirmative Commands

The Affirmative Imperative form in Spanish is utilized to issue direct commands or requests. This form prompts someone to carry out an action without delay. For example, “acaba” tells someone to “finish!” right away.

In Spanish, the Affirmative Imperative is referred to as “El Imperativo Afirmativo.”

Examples:

• Tú, acaba el proyecto antes del mediodía.
• Acabe usted con esa tarea rápidamente.
• Amigas, acabemos con esta lista de pendientes ahora mismo.

Understanding the Imperative Negative for “Acabar”

The Imperative Negative form in Spanish is used to instruct or command someone not to do something. A typical expression of this form in Spanish for the verb “acabar” is “no acabe,” which translates to “don’t finish!” when addressing someone formally.

Below is how “acabar” is conjugated in the Imperative Negative tense, also called “El Imperativo Negativo” in Spanish.

Illustrative Sentences Using the Imperative Negative

• No acabes el proyecto sin consultarme primero. (Don’t finish the project without consulting me first.)
• No acabe esta carta hasta que yo la revise. (Don’t finish this letter until I review it.)
• No acabemos la reunión tan pronto. (Let’s not end the meeting so early.)