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Spanish · Verb · #69 most common

acabar

to finish
to end up

Regular-ar ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yoacabo
acabas
él/ellaacaba
nosotrosacabamos
vosotrosacabáis
ellos/ellasacaban

Yo acabo mis tareas antes de cenar.

I finish my homework before dinner.

Ella acaba de llegar a la fiesta.

She just arrived at the party.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yoacabé
acabaste
él/ellaacabó
nosotrosacabamos
vosotrosacabasteis
ellos/ellasacabaron

Ayer acabé de leer el libro.

Yesterday, I finished reading the book.

Ellos acabaron el proyecto la semana pasada.

They finished the project last week.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yoacababa
acababas
él/ellaacababa
nosotrosacabábamos
vosotrosacababais
ellos/ellasacababan

Cuando era niño, acababa mis dibujos antes de mostrarlos.

When I was a child, I finished my drawings before showing them.

Siempre acababa de estudiar antes de salir.

I always finished studying before going out.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yoacabaré
acabarás
él/ellaacabará
nosotrosacabaremos
vosotrosacabaréis
ellos/ellasacabarán

Mañana acabaré mis deberes por la tarde.

Tomorrow, I will finish my homework in the afternoon.

Ellos acabarán la película esta noche.

They will finish the movie tonight.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yoacabaría
acabarías
él/ellaacabaría
nosotrosacabaríamos
vosotrosacabaríais
ellos/ellasacabarían

Si tuviera tiempo, acabaría el proyecto hoy.

If I had time, I would finish the project today.

Ella acabaría su tarea si no estuviera cansada.

She would finish her homework if she weren't tired.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yoacabe
acabes
él/ellaacabe
nosotrosacabemos
vosotrosacabéis
ellos/ellasacaben

Es importante que yo acabe mis estudios.

It is important that I finish my studies.

Espero que ellos acaben a tiempo.

I hope that they finish on time.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yoacabara
acabaras
él/ellaacabara
nosotrosacabáramos
vosotrosacabarais
ellos/ellasacabaran

Si yo acabara el trabajo, estaría más tranquilo.

If I finished the work, I would be more at ease.

Ojalá que ella acabara su tarea antes de salir.

I wish she finished her homework before going out.

"acabar" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "acabar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"acabar" is a regular -ar verb in Spanish. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.
How do you conjugate "acabar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "acabar" conjugates as: acabas, acabo, acaban, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "acabar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "acabar" conjugates as: acabaste, acabé, acabaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "acabar" in Spanish?
"acabar" (to finish, to end up) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.