Acabar de, Ir a and Contractions al, del

Acabar de, Ir a and
Contractions al, del
Acabar de + (infinitive)
The construction acabar de + (infinitive verb) is used to say what someone has just
done.
Acabar is a regular "-ar" verb and is conjugated as follows:
acabo
acabas
acaba
acabamos
acabáis
acaban
Here are some examples of how to use this construction:
Acabamos de hablar con Matilde.
Acabo de terminar mi tarea.
David acaba de comer.
We just talked with Matilde.
I just finished my homework.
David just ate.
Notice that the verb following the phrase acabar de MUST be an infinitive.
Ir a + (infinitive)
Ir a is a useful phrase to tell what someone is going to do.
Ir is an irregular verb whose forms must simply be memorized. Let’s take a look.
voy
vas
va
vamos
váis
van
Here are some examples of how to use this construction:
Van a comer en un restaurante.
Yo voy a jugar al tenis.
Juan va a estudiar esta noche.
They are going to eat at a restaurant.
I am going to play tennis.
Juan is going to study tonight.
Notice that the verb following the phrase ir a MUST be an infinitive.
Putting them together
These two phrases are very convenient ways of talking about the recent past and the
near future.
When used together, we can talk about where we have been and where we are going.
For example:
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Acabar de, Ir a and
Contractions al, del
Acabo de jugar baloncesto.
Voy a ducharme.
I just played basketball.
I am going to take a shower.
Contractions: al and del
When a or de comes before the definite article el, a contraction is formed.
a + el = al
de + el = del
(to the, or at the)
(from the)
For example:
Voy al supermercado.
Esa camisa es del niño.
Acabar de, Ir a, and contractions al, del
(Not "Voy a el supermercado.")
(Not “Esa camisa es de el niño.)
© 2012 Middlebury Interactive Languages.
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