Meaning and behavior
What does acabar mean?
Acabar means to finish; to end. VerbyGo classifies it as a regular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to end up (eventually doing); to have just; just (indicates recency).
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- acabar
- Gerund
- acabando
- Past participle
- acabado
Regular -AR pattern
How this verb behaves
Acabar follows the regular -ar pattern in the four tenses shown here.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of acabar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Acabar |
|---|---|
| yo | acabo |
| tú | acabas |
| él / ella / usted | acaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | acabamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | acabáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | acaban |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of acabar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Acabar |
|---|---|
| yo | acabé |
| tú | acabaste |
| él / ella / usted | acabó |
| nosotros / nosotras | acabamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | acabasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | acabaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of acabar, or for background information.
| Subject | Acabar |
|---|---|
| yo | acababa |
| tú | acababas |
| él / ella / usted | acababa |
| nosotros / nosotras | acabábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | acababais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | acababan |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of acabar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Acabar |
|---|---|
| yo | acabaré |
| tú | acabarás |
| él / ella / usted | acabará |
| nosotros / nosotras | acabaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | acabaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | acabarán |
Verified context
Examples with acabar
Él se acaba de ir.
He left just now.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRMe lo acaba de decir.
She just told me.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRSe le acabó el papel.
She ran out of paper.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Acabar FAQ
What does acabar mean?
Acabar means to finish; to end.
Is acabar regular or irregular?
Acabar is a regular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of acabar?
The gerund of acabar is acabando.
What is the past participle of acabar?
The past participle of acabar is acabado.
How is acabar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is acabo, acabas, acaba, acabamos, acaban.
How is acabar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is acabé, acabaste, acabó, acabamos, acabaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.