To finish a book.

Question

Qué verbo es mejor para decir "finish a book"?

Terminar? Acabar?

Gracias.

¿Qué pasa con los ¿¿¿¿'s? And I don't know the answer to your question. I would say "terminar" and see whether a native corrects me. - Jubilado, Sep 18, 2013

Hi Jubilado. The short version of the the answer is, if I´m at a real keyboard, I include the ¿ and if not, i.e mobile, I don´t. - rogspax, Sep 18, 2013

Answer 1

I'd go with terminar which could apply to reading or writing, just like English I guess. If you wanted to be specific you could use it with leer I guess but I wouldn't say that it was necessary.

It was late afternoon when I finished reading the book.

Fue tarde cuando terminé de leerlo.

He then told me that if I finished my book he would help me find a publisher.

Entonces me dijo que cuando terminara mi libro me ayudaría a encontrar a alguien que lo publicara.

Thanks Kiwi. Sidebar, why would that be Fue tarde instead of era tarde? - rogspax, Sep 18, 2013

Because I'm referring to the event as a completed event, not as a narrative, or to set a scene . - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 18, 2013

MC, I agree but "Fue tarde" can confuse. Less confusing would be "Fue en la tarde....." Also I agree with using "de leerlo" , however, either "acabar" or "terminar" could be used - 005faa61, Sep 18, 2013

Thanks to all of you. I was especially trying to get a better feel for acabar. Sometimes it seems just like terminar, and sometimes more like to use-up or gastar, so I wasn´t sure if that fit for a book. Thanks. - rogspax, Sep 18, 2013

Answer 2

If you just finished the book...acabo de terminar.

Answer 3

They are sinonymous, they are interchangeables when used with the meaning of finish.

• (Me) he acabado el libro
• (Me) he terminado el libro

Both can be used as pronominal.