-ar verb C1 · Advanced

Conjugate acabar in Spanish

to finish, to end

acabar is a regular -ar verb ranked #2001 among the most common Spanish verbs. For example: "Necesito acabar este informe hoy." (I need to finish this report today.). Use the tables below for full conjugation across all 7 tenses.

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Describes current actions, habits, and general truths. The most frequently used tense — master it first.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo acabo
acabas
él/ella/Ud. acaba
nosotros acabamos
vosotros acabáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acaban
Example

¿Cuándo acaba la película?

When does the movie end?

Describes completed past actions with a clear start and end. Key signals: ayer, el lunes pasado, de repente.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo acabé
acabaste
él/ella/Ud. acabó
nosotros acabamos
vosotros acabasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acabaron
Example

Ayer yo acabé.

Yesterday I finish, to end.

Describes habitual past actions, background context, and ongoing states. Key signals: siempre, normalmente, cuando era niño.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo acababa
acababas
él/ella/Ud. acababa
nosotros acabábamos
vosotros acabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. acababan
Example

Antes yo acababa con frecuencia.

Before, I used to finish, to end often.

Describes future events and predictions. In everyday speech, ir a + infinitive is often preferred for planned events.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo acabaré
acabarás
él/ella/Ud. acabará
nosotros acabaremos
vosotros acabaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acabarán
Example

Mañana yo acabaré.

Tomorrow I will finish, to end.

Expresses what would happen under certain conditions — equivalent to "would" in English. Also used for polite requests.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo acabaría
acabarías
él/ella/Ud. acabaría
nosotros acabaríamos
vosotros acabaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. acabarían
Example

Si pudiera, yo acabaría.

If I could, I would finish, to end.

Used in clauses expressing wishes, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty — typically after que. Triggers: querer, esperar, dudar, ojalá.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo acabe
acabes
él/ella/Ud. acabe
nosotros acabemos
vosotros acabéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. acaben
Example

Espero que tú acabes.

I hope that you finish, to end.

Used to give commands and direct requests. Affirmative and negative forms differ significantly in Spanish.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo -
acaba
él/ella/Ud. acabe
nosotros acabemos
vosotros acabad
ellos/ellas/Uds. acaben
Example

¿Cuándo acaba la película?

When does the movie end?

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Type the correct conjugation for each prompt.

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Example sentences

Common phrases with acabar

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