acabamos
/ah-kah-BAH-mos/
we finish
As a present tense verb, "acabamos" means 'we finish' or 'we complete' a task.
acabamos(Verb (Conjugated Form))
we finish
?Present tense, habitual action
,we finished
?Past tense (Preterite), completed action
we end
?To bring something to a close
,we complete
?To finalize a task
📝 In Action
Siempre acabamos el trabajo antes de la hora límite.
A1We always finish the work before the deadline.
Ayer acabamos de pintar la sala a medianoche.
A2Yesterday we finished painting the living room at midnight.
Si no acabamos ahora, tendremos que volver mañana.
A2If we don't finish now, we will have to come back tomorrow.
💡 Grammar Points
Present vs. Past Ambiguity
The 'nosotros' form, 'acabamos,' is exactly the same in both the present tense ('we finish') and the simple past tense (preterite, 'we finished'). You must use context (like time markers: 'ayer', 'siempre') to know which one is being used.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'acabamos' without a time indicator and being misunderstood."
Correction: Always try to include a word like 'hoy' (today) or 'anoche' (last night) if the context isn't perfectly clear, especially when speaking.
When used in the phrase 'acabar de,' "acabamos" means 'we have just' (done something), emphasizing immediate completion.
acabamos(Verb (Used in a fixed phrase))
we have just (done something)
?To express an action completed a moment ago
we just (did something)
?Informal English equivalent
📝 In Action
¿Quieren café? No, gracias, acabamos de tomar uno.
A2Do you want coffee? No, thank you, we have just had one.
Acabamos de llegar a la estación, espérennos.
A1We have just arrived at the station, wait for us.
El informe está listo. Acabamos de enviarlo por correo.
B1The report is ready. We have just sent it by mail.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Immediate Past' Structure
When 'acabar' is followed by the preposition 'de' and then a verb in its base form (infinitive), it means 'to have just done' that action. It's a key way to talk about the very recent past.
Always Use 'de'
Remember the structure: [Conjugated acabar] + de + [Infinitive]. If you leave out 'de', the meaning changes back to 'we finish/end'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acabamos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'We finished the meeting an hour ago'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'acabamos' sometimes present tense and sometimes preterite tense?
In Spanish, for regular '-ar' and '-ir' verbs, the 'nosotros' (we) form is identical in the present tense (we finish) and the simple past tense (we finished). You have to listen for context or time words (like 'yesterday' or 'always') to know which meaning is intended.
Is 'acabar' always about finishing something physical?
No. While it often means finishing a task or eating, it can also refer to running out of something ('se nos acabó el dinero' - we ran out of money) or ending a relationship ('acabaron').