The simple present tense of acabar is used to express actions that are happening right now or that occur habitually. For example, Acabo de limpiar la casa. (I have just finished cleaning the house.)
Acabar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the simple present follow the typical pattern for this verb type.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Acabar (to finish) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | acabo |
| Tú | acabas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | acaba |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | acabamos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | acaban |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Acabar (to finish) in the Present Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Acabar in the Present Tense
Acabar generally means to finish or end something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.
To finish or complete: for example, Acabo mi tarea (I finish my homework).
To run out or use up: for example, Acabo la comida (I finish/use up the food).
To end or terminate: for example, Acabo la relación (I end the relationship).
Colloquial: To defeat or beat: for example, ¡Te acabo en este juego! (I’ll beat you in this game!).
Vulgar: To have sex with: for example, ¡Acabo con tu hermana! (I had sex with your sister!) Warning: This is extremely rude and offensive.
Examples
Examples of Acabar in the Present Tense
Yo acabo de terminar mi tarea. (I just finished my homework.)
¿Acabas de llegar a la fiesta? (Did you just arrive at the party?)
Ella acaba de publicar un nuevo libro. (She just published a new book.)
Acabamos de ver una película increíble. (We just watched an incredible movie.)
Ellos acaban de regresar de sus vacaciones. (They just returned from their vacation.)
Mis amigos acaban de irse a la playa. (My friends just left for the beach.)
Nosotros acabamos de cenar. (We just had dinner.)
¿Acaba de sonar el timbre? (Did the bell just ring?)
La clase acaba de terminar. (The class just ended.)
¿Acabas de recibir un mensaje importante? (Did you just receive an important message?)
Mis padres acaban de comprar una nueva casa. (My parents just bought a new house.)
Acabamos de llegar al hotel. (We just arrived at the hotel.)
Ella acaba de ganar un premio. (She just won an award.)
¿Acaban de anunciar los resultados? (Did they just announce the results?)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Acabar (to finish) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo acabo | I finish |
| Tú acabas | You finish |
| Él / Ella / Usted acaba | He / She / You finishes |
| Nosotros / Nosotras acabamos | We finish |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes acaban | They / You all finish |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.