Learn Spanish (Latin America): Yo acababa de encontrar una ganga entre los discos usados. - I had just found a bargain among the used records.

The phrase acabar de + infinitive means 'to have just done something'. When we talk about the past ('had just done'), we use the imperfect tense (acababa de) because it sets the scene, describing a state you were in at that moment. The preterite (acabé de) would mean you literally finished the physical action of finding it, which sounds unnatural here.

If the English says 'had just found', why isn't the Spanish había encontrado?

You could use the past perfect and say yo recién había encontrado (I had just/recently found), but acababa de + infinitive is the standard, most natural way in Spanish to say you had just done something. It specifically emphasizes that the action happened only moments before the main story you are telling.

Is entre used for both 'between' and 'among'?

Yes! While English has separate words for 'between' (two things) and 'among' (more than two), Spanish simply uses entre for both. Here, entre los discos usados means 'among the used records'.

What does ganga mean in this context?

A ganga is a bargain, a steal, or a really good deal. You will hear this word a lot in markets, thrift stores, or anywhere someone finds something great for a surprisingly low price!