In Spanish we use this verbal structure to express "To have just done [something]".
Have a look and listen to the following examples in different tenses:
Acabo de romper la mesa.
I have just broken the table.
Nosotros acabábamos de comer cuando Sara llegó.
We had just eaten when Sara arrived.
Usted acaba de comprar el viaje de sus sueños.
You have just bought your dream trip.
Los jubilados acababan de llegar a Benidorm cuando empezó la tormenta.
The retirees had just arrived to Benidorm when the storm started.
Notice how the preposition de always follows acabar. In Spanish, unlike in English, we do not use a participle (-ed form) but rather an infinitive after de.
Acabo de llegar.
Acabo de llegado.
I have just arrived.
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Nosotros acabábamos de comer cuando Sara llegó.
We had just eaten when Sara arrived.
Los jubilados acababan de llegar a Benidorm cuando empezó la tormenta.
The retirees had just arrived to Benidorm when the storm started.
Usted acaba de comprar el viaje de sus sueños.
You have just bought your dream trip.
Acabo de romper la mesa.
I have just broken the table.
Jessica
Kwiziq community member
24 January 2019
1 reply
If you want to say'I have just finished.." would you say Acabo de terminar...?And do you have to use a 'de' after terminar?
Inma
Kwiziq language super star
24 January 2019
24/01/19
Hola Jessica
Yes, to express "to have just done something" we use the whole structure "acabar de +infinitive", so you need to conjugate acabar in the present and then add "de" plus infinitive.
For example:
"Acabo de hablar con Juan" (I've just spoken with Juan)
"Ella acaba de llegar a casa" (She's just arrived home)
I hope this helps,
Gracias y un saludo
Inma