acabar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
acabar — to finish
The imperfect subjunctive of acabar uses the -ra endings: acabara, acabaras, acabara, acabáramos, acabarais, acabaran.
acabar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (e.g., 'If I finished...') or after past-tense expressions of emotion, doubt, or will.
Notes on acabar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Acabar is regular. It is formed by taking the 'acabaron' form from the preterite and replacing the ending.
Example Sentences
Si acabara hoy, podría descansar.
If I finished today, I could rest.
yo
Me gustaría que acabaras la cena.
I would like you to finish dinner.
tú
Era necesario que acabáramos el trato.
It was necessary that we finished the deal.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the nosotros form 'acabáramos'.
Correct: acabáramos
Why: The nosotros form of the imperfect subjunctive always requires an accent on the vowel before the 'ramos' ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: acabo
The present tense of acabar is regular: acabo, acabas, acaba, acabamos, acabáis, acaban.
Preterite
yo: acabé
The preterite of acabar is regular: acabé, acabaste, acabó, acabamos, acabasteis, acabaron.
Imperfect
yo: acababa
Acabar in the imperfect is regular: acababa, acababas, acababa, acabábamos, acababais, acababan.
Future
yo: acabaré
The future tense is regular: acabaré, acabarás, acabará, acabaremos, acabaréis, acabarán.
Conditional
yo: acabaría
The conditional is regular: acabaría, acabarías, acabaría, acabaríamos, acabaríais, acabarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: acabe
The present subjunctive of acabar follows the -ar pattern: acabe, acabes, acabe, acabemos, acabéis, acaben.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: acaba
The affirmative imperative forms are: acaba (tú), acabe (usted), acabemos (nosotros), acabad (vosotros), acaben (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no acabes
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no acabes, no acabe, no acabemos, no acabéis, no acaben.