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acababa de

had just

→ acabar
phrase Uncommon #21,713
had just Used before an infinitive to say that someone had done something shortly before another past event.
SP: Acababa de salir cuando empezó a llover.
EN: I had just left when it started to rain.

Acababa de terminar los deberes cuando Ted me llamó.

I had just finished my homework when Ted called me.

Philippe acababa de cumplir cinco.

Philippe had just turned five.

— Ne le dis à personne (2006)

Acababa de llegar a casa del gimnasio.

I had just arrived home from the gym.

— Temporada de Sangre (2025)

Acababa de empezar la carrera y ya iba por otro camino.

The race had just started and I was already going down a different path.

— Tropa de Élite (2007)

A mi juicio, Henrison acababa de ganarse un ascenso.

In my opinion, Henrison had just earned a promotion.

Acababa de terminar los deberes cuando vino a visitarme.

I had just finished my homework when he came to visit me.

Él acababa de llegar a casa cuando llamé.

He had just arrived home when I called.

Acababa de llegar aquí con Andris, y de repente, lo imposible se hizo posible.

I had just arrived here with Andris, and suddenly, the impossible became possible.

— TÁR (2022)

Alguien acababa de terminar de ponerle un torniquete —.

Someone had just finished putting a tourniquet on them—.

Acababa de entrar cuando hemos hablado.

I had just come in when we spoke.

— Ofrenda a la tormenta (2020)

Andrew era el tipo que acababa de perder la parte inferior del brazo.

Andrew was the guy who had just lost the lower part of his arm.

Él acababa de llegar aquí.

He had just arrived here.

Acababa de llegar.

He had just arrived.

Cuando volvió yo acababa de terminar de escribir la carta.

When he returned I had just finished writing the letter.

Acababa de ganar un premio por su primera novela.

He had just won an award for his first novel.

— Familia (2023)

Ella acababa de empezar a leer el libro cuando alguien golpeó la puerta.

She had just started reading the book when someone knocked on the door.

El día que murió mi padre, me acababa de lavar y estaba listo.

The day my father died, I’d just washed up and was ready.

— El agente secreto (2025)

Él acababa de llegar.

He had just arrived.