different uses for "acabar"

Hola Gerald R

The verb "acabar" in Spanish has different meanings depending on how it is used. One common structure is "acabar de + infinitive", which means "to have just done something". This form indicates that an action was completed very recently. For example, "Acabo de comer" means "I just ate", and "Acaban de llegar" means "They just arrived".

Another important structure is "estar acabando de + infinitive", which is used to express that someone is "finishing" or "in the process of completing" something. In this case, the action is still happening but is close to being finished. For example, "Estoy acabando de escribir el informe" means "I’m finishing writing the report", and "Estamos acabando de limpiar la cocina" means "We’re finishing cleaning the kitchen".

In summary, "acabar de" refers to something that has just been completed, while "estar acabando de" describes an action that is currently being finished. Understanding this distinction can help you use "acabar" more accurately in Spanish.