
acabar Present Conjugation
acabar — to finish
The present tense of acabar is regular: acabo, acabas, acaba, acabamos, acabáis, acaban.
acabar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present for current actions, habits, or the very common 'acabar de + infinitive' construction meaning 'to have just done something'.
Notes on acabar in the Present
Acabar is a standard regular -ar verb in the present tense.
Example Sentences
Siempre acabo mi café antes de salir.
I always finish my coffee before leaving.
yo
Acabo de llegar a casa.
I have just arrived home.
yo
¿A qué hora acaban ustedes?
What time do you all finish?
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing 'acabo' (I finish) with 'al cabo' (at the end).
Correct: acabo
Why: 'Acabo' is a verb form, while 'al cabo' is part of a prepositional phrase.
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Related Tenses
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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: acabara
The imperfect subjunctive of acabar uses the -ra endings: acabara, acabaras, acabara, acabáramos, acabarais, acabaran.
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.