Las perífrasis "acabar de", "empezar a" y "volver a" se usan para hablar de distintos momentos de una acción.

(The verb phrases "acabar de", "empezar a" and "volver a" are used to talk about different moments of an action.)

Understanding these three structures

  • Acabar de + infinitive → something has just happened.
  • Empezar a + infinitive → something starts.
  • Volver a + infinitive → something happens again.

All three are called verbal periphrases: a conjugated verb + a verb in the infinitive.

The structure is always: [conjugated verb] + (preposition) + [infinitive].

1. Clear formulas to remember

Meaning Formula Mini example
Just did something acabar de + infinitive Acabo de llegar. = I’ve just arrived.
Start doing something empezar a + infinitive Empiezo a trabajar. = I start working.
Do something again volver a + infinitive Vuelvo a llamar. = I call again.

Key detail: the second verb is always infinitive (comer, llamar, trabajar…). Never gerund (-ando, -iendo).

2. Acabar de + infinitive: “have just done”

Use this when the action finished very recently.

  • Acabo de enviar el informe. = I’ve just sent the report.
  • Acabamos de hablar con el cliente. = We’ve just spoken to the client.

Think: in English you usually say “have just + past participle”.

  • I’ve just called. → Acabo de llamar.
  • We’ve just arrived. → Acabamos de llegar.

Form:

  • Conjugate acabar (usually in the present or preterite).
  • Add de.
  • Add infinitive.

Pattern: acabo / acabé / acabamos… + de + infinitive

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Acabo llamar → Acabo de llamar.
  • Acabo llamando → Acabo de llamar.
  • Acabo de llamando → Acabo de llamar.

Mini self-check:

  1. Can you change “I’ve just finished” into Spanish?
    Answer: Acabo de terminar.
  2. Is Acabo terminar correct?
    No. You need de: Acabo de terminar.

3. Empezar a + infinitive: “start to do”

Use this when an action begins.

  • Empiezo a leer el informe. = I start reading the report.
  • Empezamos a cenar a las nueve. = We start having dinner at nine.
  • Ayer empezamos a trabajar en el nuevo proyecto. = Yesterday we started to work on the new project.

Form:

  • Conjugate empezar (empiezo, empiezas, empecé, empezamos…).
  • Add a.
  • Add infinitive.

Pattern: empiezo / empecé / empezamos… + a + infinitive

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Empiezo trabajar → Empiezo a trabajar.
  • Empezamos de trabajar → Empezamos a trabajar.

Mini self-check:

  1. Translate “Tomorrow I start to study Spanish.”
    Answer: Mañana empiezo a estudiar español.
  2. What must be between empezar and the infinitive?
    Always a.

4. Volver a + infinitive: “do again”

Use this when you repeat an action.

  • Mañana volvemos a hablar con el proveedor. = Tomorrow we speak with the supplier again.
  • Vuelvo a leer el contrato. = I read the contract again.
  • ¿Puedes volver a explicar esto? = Can you explain this again?

Form:

  • Conjugate volver (vuelvo, vuelves, volvemos, volví…).
  • Add a.
  • Add infinitive.

Pattern: vuelvo / volvemos / volví… + a + infinitive

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Vuelvo llamar → Vuelvo a llamar.
  • Vuelvo de llamar (I come back from calling) → not “again”.
    For “again”, say: Vuelvo a llamar.

Mini self-check:

  1. How do you say “We are going to do the course again.”?
    Vamos a volver a hacer el curso.
  2. What signal word in Spanish shows “again” here?
    Volver a.

5. Time focus: when do I use which one?

  • Acabar de → focus on the moment just before now.
    • Acabo de llegar. = I arrived a few seconds / minutes ago.
  • Empezar a → focus on the beginning of an action.
    • Empezamos a cenar. = The dinner is starting now.
  • Volver a → focus on repetition.
    • Volvemos a llamar. = We call again (we did it before).

You can combine them with different tenses:

  • Present: Acabo de llegar. = I’ve just arrived (now).
  • Preterite: Ayer empezamos a trabajar juntos. = Yesterday we started to work together.
  • Future / ir a: Mañana vamos a volver a ver este tema. = Tomorrow we will look at this topic again.

6. Typical English–Spanish traps

  • English: “I just eat, then I work.” (present, no “have”).
    Spanish for “I’ve just eaten”: Acabo de comer, not Solo como.
  • English: “I start working at 9.”
    Spanish: Empiezo a trabajar a las 9, not Empiezo trabajar.
  • English: “I call again.”
    Spanish: Vuelvo a llamar, not Llamo otra vez volver.
English idea Incorrect Correct
I’ve just finished the meeting. Solo termino la reunión. Acabo de terminar la reunión.
We start to eat. Empezamos comer. Empezamos a comer.
She reads the email again. Lee otra vez vuelve el correo. Vuelve a leer el correo.

7. Quick checklist: form & meaning

Use this checklist to see if your sentence is correct.

  1. Meaning: What do you want to say?
    • Just did → choose acabar de.
    • Start → choose empezar a.
    • Again → choose volver a.
  2. Conjugation: Is the first verb conjugated?
    • Yo acabo, tú empiezas, nosotros volvemos…
  3. Preposition:
    • acabar de
    • empezar a
    • volver a
  4. Infinitive: Is the second verb in infinitive?
    • comer, llamar, trabajar, reservar…
    • Not: comiendo, trabajando.

8. Final self-test

Try to say each sentence in Spanish (then compare with the solutions):

  1. I’ve just arrived at the office.
  2. We are starting to prepare the presentation.
  3. They want to call the client again.

Possible answers:

  • Acabo de llegar a la oficina.
  • Empezamos a preparar la presentación.
  • Quieren volver a llamar al cliente.

If you can build and check sentences like these on your own, you are ready to use these structures in conversation.

  1. Use acabar de + infinitivo to express an action that has just been completed.
  2. Use empezar a to express the beginning of an action.
  3. Use volver a to indicate the repetition of an action.
FormulaUseExample
Acabar de + infinitivoPara expresar una acción que ha terminado recientemente. (To express an action that has finished recently.)Acabo de terminar de comer. (I’ve just finished eating.)
Empezar a + infinitivoPara indicar el inicio de una acción. (To indicate the beginning of an action.)¿Empiezas a pedir algo o esperas un poco más? (Are you starting to order something, or will you wait a bit longer?)
Volver a + infinitivoPara indicar la repetición de una acción. (To indicate the repetition of an action.)Volví a pedir las croquetas porque estaban deliciosas. (I ordered the croquettes again because they were delicious.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. ___ pedir una ración de croquetas, pero quiero volver a probar las patatas bravas.

___ ordered a portion of croquettes, but I want to try the patatas bravas again.)

2. Cuando llegamos al bar, Marta ___ tomar algo y ahora ya está llena.

When we arrived at the bar, Marta ___ to have a drink and now she’s already full.)

3. Si las croquetas te gustan tanto, mañana puedes ___ pedir una ración para llevar.

If you like the croquettes that much, tomorrow you can ___ order another portion to take away.)

4. ___ llegar del trabajo y vamos a empezar a cenar unas tapas.

___ arrived from work and we’re going to start having some tapas for dinner.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Select the correct sentence that properly uses the periphrases 'acabar de', 'empezar a', or 'volver a' with the infinitive according to the context.

1.
'Acabar de' is the correct form; 'acabar a' is not appropriate in this expression.
The preposition 'de' is missing after 'acabar' to form the correct periphrasis.
2.
The preposition 'a' is missing after 'empezar' to maintain the correct construction.
'Empezar de' is not used in this periphrasis; it should be 'empezar a'.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences using the indicated periphrasis: acabar de / empezar a / volver a + infinitive, keeping the same basic meaning.

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (Acabar de) Termino la reunión ahora mismo.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Acabo de terminar la reunión.
    (Acabo de terminar la reunión.)
  2. Hint Hint (Empezar a) Mañana inicio las clases de español.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Mañana empiezo a estudiar español.
    (Mañana empiezo a estudiar español.)
  3. Hint Hint (Volver a) El mes pasado repetimos el curso de cocina porque nos gustó mucho.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    El mes pasado volvimos a hacer el curso de cocina porque nos gustó mucho.
    (El mes pasado volvimos a hacer el curso de cocina porque nos gustó mucho.)
  4. Hint Hint (Acabar de) Hace cinco minutos llegué al trabajo.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Acabo de llegar al trabajo.
    (Acabo de llegar al trabajo.)

Exercise 4: Grammar in action

Instruction: As a couple, agree what to order and explain when and why you order it.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
Sales tarde de la oficina y decides pedir comida para llevar con un compañero.
(You’re staying late at the office and decide to order takeout with a coworker.)
Discuss
  • ¿Qué acabas de comer hoy y qué cambiarías para la cena? (What did you just eat today, and what would you change for dinner?)
  • ¿Qué comida empezaste a pedir cuando llegaste a España y por qué? (What food did you start ordering when you arrived in Spain, and why?)
Useful words and phrases
  • Acabo de comer tortilla, pero tengo hambre. (I’ve just eaten a tortilla, but I’m still hungry.)
  • Empecé a pedir comida china al llegar aquí. (I began ordering Chinese food when I arrived here.)
  • Quiero volver a pedir croquetas; estaban riquísimas. (I want to order croquetas again; they were delicious.)
Use in conversation
  • acabar de + infinitivo (acabar de + infinitive)
  • empezar a + infinitivo (empezar a + infinitive)
  • volver a + infinitivo (volver a + infinitive)

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage