Spanish · Chapter 34 · Lesson 14 · Grammar primer
Verbal periphrases: acabar de, llevar, volver a + verb
The helper-verb toolbox that adds aspect beyond plain tense: acabo de llegar (have just), llevo dos horas esperando (have been waiting), volvio a llamar (called again), sigue lloviendo (still raining).
The short version
The de is what delivers have just
Acabar de plus an infinitive is the Spanish for 'have just', and the little de is what does the work. Keep it in the present for 'have just' and the imperfect for 'had just', as in acababa de comer. Strip the de out and the meaning changes: acabo el trabajo is 'I finish the work', not 'I have just worked'.
Acabo de llegar.
Volver a is the Spanish re-
Volver a plus an infinitive is the neatest trick in the set: it is Spanish for the English prefix 're-' or the adverb 'again'. Volvió a llamar means 'he called again', not 'he returned to call'. Where English builds a dedicated verb, Spanish just says volver a escribir, volver a leer, volver a nacer.
No lo volveré a hacer.
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