acaban
/ah-CAH-bahn/
they finish
Acaban translates to “they finish,” often used when referring to completing a task, like finishing a puzzle.
acaban(Verb)
they finish
?completing a task
,you finish
?formal plural address
,they end
?a period or event
they run out of
?using up supplies (often used reflexively as 'se acaban')
,they conclude
?formal speech
📝 In Action
Ellos acaban su trabajo a las cinco.
A1They finish their work at five o'clock.
¿Cuándo acaban ustedes el proyecto?
A2When are you all finishing the project?
Las clases acaban mañana por la tarde.
A2Classes end tomorrow afternoon.
💡 Grammar Points
A Regular Verb
'Acabar' is a regular '-ar' verb, which means it follows the most common conjugation patterns. Once you know the pattern for 'hablar' or 'tomar,' you know 'acabar' too!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'acabar' for location
Mistake: "Acaban en la tienda (They end up in the store)."
Correction: Use 'terminan' or 'resultan' for this meaning. 'Acabar' usually refers to ending a task or time period.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Completion
Think of 'acabar' as emphasizing the completion or conclusion of something, not just stopping.
When used in the structure 'acaban de + infinitive', it means “they have just finished,” emphasizing an action completed in the immediate past.
acaban(Verb)
they have just finished
?Used in the structure 'acaban de + infinitive'
,you have just finished
?formal plural, used in the structure 'acaban de + infinitive'
📝 In Action
Ellos acaban de llegar a la fiesta.
A2They have just arrived at the party.
Ustedes acaban de comer, ¿verdad?
A2You all have just eaten, right?
Las noticias acaban de anunciar la tormenta.
B1The news has just announced the storm.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Just Now' Phrase
The phrase 'acabar de' is the Spanish equivalent of saying 'to have just done something.' It is always followed by the basic, unconjugated form of the action verb (the infinitive).
Tense is Important
To talk about what happened a moment ago, you use 'acaban' (present tense). If you want to say 'they had just arrived' (further back in the past), you would use the imperfect form: 'acababan de llegar.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Adding unnecessary words
Mistake: "Ellos acaban de ya llegar."
Correction: Avoid adding extra time words like 'ya' (already). The structure 'acabar de' already signals the immediacy of the action.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acaban
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly uses 'acaban' in the sense of 'to have just done something'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'acaban' used for people or things?
'Acaban' can be used for both! It is the 'they' form, so it applies to any plural subject. For example, 'Ellos acaban la tarea' (They finish the homework) or 'Los recursos se acaban' (The resources run out).
How do I know if 'acaban' means 'finish' or 'have just finished'?
If 'acaban' is immediately followed by the word 'de' and then another verb (like 'acaban de comer'), it means 'have just finished.' If 'acaban' is followed by the thing being finished (like 'acaban la cena'), it means 'finish' or 'complete.'