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Verbal periphrases · acabar de / volver a / soler

Fixed verb + verb frames: acabar de (to have just done), volver a (to do again), soler (to usually do), empezar a (to start doing).

Examples

  • Acabo de comer.I just ate.
  • Suelo correr por la mañana.I usually run in the morning.
  • Llevo dos años estudiando.I've been studying for 2 years.

How it works

Spanish has many "verb + preposition + infinitive (the dictionary form, like hablar)" constructions that express nuance English handles with adverbs or helper verbs.

acabar de + inf — to have JUST done something (very recent past):

Acabo de comer. — I just ate.
Acabamos de llegar. — We just arrived.

volver a + inf — to do something AGAIN:

Vuelvo a leer el libro.

I'm reading the book again.

No volveré a fumar. — I won't smoke again.

soler + inf — to USUALLY / be in the habit of doing (only present + imperfect):

Present, with the stem o → ue (not in nosotros / vosotros):

suelo, sueles, suele, solemos, soléis, suelen
Imperfect, for past habits ("used to"):
solía, solías, solía, solíamos, solíais, solían
Suelo correr por la mañana.

I usually run in the morning.

Solíamos ir al cine.

We used to go to the cinema.

ponerse a + inf — to START doing (suddenly):

Se puso a llorar. — She started crying.

empezar/comenzar a + inf — to begin to:

Empezó a llover. — It started to rain.

dejar de + inf — to STOP doing:

Dejé de fumar. — I quit smoking.

seguir + gerundio (the -ando / -iendo form, like English -ing) — to KEEP doing:

Sigue lloviendo. — It keeps raining.

llevar + time + gerundio — to have BEEN doing for [time]:

Llevo dos años estudiando.

I've been studying for 2 years.

Llevamos una hora esperando.

We've been waiting for an hour.

tener que / hay que + inf — obligation (already covered in "Modal verbs").

ir a + inf — near future (already covered separately).

What you'll practise

  1. 1. acabar de + inf (just done)

    acabar in the present (changed to match the subject: acabo, acabas…) + de + infinitive (the dictionary form, like hablar).

    • Acabo de llegar.I just arrived.
    • Acaban de salir.They just left.

  2. 2. volver a + inf (do again)

    volver, changed to match the subject (vuelvo, vuelves…), + a + infinitive (the dictionary form, like hablar).

    • Volvió a llover.It rained again.
    • Vuelvo a leer el libro.I'm reading the book again.

  3. 3. soler + inf (usually do)

    Stem-changing soler (suelo/sueles/suele/solemos/soléis/suelen) or imperfecto.

    • Suelo desayunar pan.I usually eat bread for breakfast.
    • Solían viajar mucho.They used to travel a lot.

  4. 4. llevar + time + gerund (have been doing)

    llevar + duration + gerund (the -ando / -iendo form, like English -ing) expresses ongoing duration.

    • Llevo una hora esperando.I've been waiting for an hour.
    • Lleva dos años viviendo aquí.He's been living here for 2 years.

Practise it until it sticks

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