20.4Acabar de+ infinitive
This denotes proximity to a present (in the present) or past (in the imperfect) moment
and corresponds to English ‘to have just’.
María Luisa acaba de marcharse. (see 73.3)
María Luisa has just left.
Juan acababa de ser nombrado director cuando lo conocí.
Juan had just been appointed director when I met him.20.5Ir+ gerund
This denotes a gradual or repeated process:
Va cobrando importancia.
It’s (steadily) gaining in importance.20.6Venir+ gerund
This denotes a repeated action continuing up to the present moment (with the present
or perfect) or up to a past moment (with the imperfect):
Vengo diciendo que es imposible.
I’ve kept on saying that it’s impossible.
Desde entonces ha venido insistiendo en su derecho al autogobierno.
Since that time it has (constantly) insisted on its right to self-
government.
Venía reclamando su independencia desde el siglo XVI.
It had been claiming its independence since the sixteenth century.20.7Tener+ past participle
This denotes completion:
No podías salir sin tener cumplidos los deberes.
You could not go out without having completed your homework.
It is frequently used with verbs like prohibir‘to forbid’ indicating an ongoing state of
affairs:
Me tiene prohibido criticar al jefe.
He/she has forbidden me to criticize the boss.NOTE In the tener+ past participle construction, the past participle agrees with the direct object of the
verb.OTHER FORMS OF THE VERB AND THEIR USES 20.4