Carlos acabó llorando debido al estrés en el trabajo.Carlos ended up crying because of stress at work.
Laura terminó obedeciendo a su padre a pesar de la discusión.Laura ended up obeying her father despite the argument.
Notice how in these examples above there is no preposition at all and the conjugated verb is followed by a present participle (not an infinitive). This verbal periphrase can be used in different tenses. Have a look and listen to the following examples:
En mi relación con Luis, siempre acabocediendo yo.In my relationship with Luis, I always end up compromising.
He acabado porapuntarme a esa clase de yoga los martes.I've ended up signing up for that yoga class on Tuesdays.
Terminarás porconvencerme de esa idea tan loca.You will end up convincing me to go along with that crazy idea.
All these structures are interchangeable.
Be careful not to mix them up by using infinitive instead of present participle, or the other way round.
Acabé por comprando ese vestido tan caro. Acabé por comprar ese vestido tan caro. I ended up buying that expensive dress.
Terminó darle el dinero que pedía. Terminó dándole el dinero que pedía. She ended up giving him the money he was asking.
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Ella era tan exigente que acabóporregalarle un diamante.She was so demanding that he ended up buying her a diamond.Después de 10 años juntos ella terminópordejarle.After 10 years together she ended up leaving him.Terminarás porconvencerme de esa idea tan loca.You will end up convincing me to go along with that crazy idea.He acabado porapuntarme a esa clase de yoga los martes.I've ended up signing up for that yoga class on Tuesdays.En mi relación con Luis, siempre acabocediendo yo.In my relationship with Luis, I always end up compromising.Carlos acabó llorando debido al estrés en el trabajo.Carlos ended up crying because of stress at work.Laura terminó obedeciendo a su padre a pesar de la discusión.Laura ended up obeying her father despite the argument.