pensando
/pen-SAHN-doh/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Estoy pensando en ti.
A1I am thinking of you.
¿En qué estás pensando?
A1What are you thinking about?
Llevo todo el día pensando en una solución.
B1I've been thinking about a solution all day.
Me quedé callado, pensando en qué decir.
B1I stayed quiet, thinking about what to say.
💡 Grammar Points
The Spanish '-ing' Form
Pensando is the Spanish version of 'thinking'. It's a special verb form called a gerundio. You almost always pair it with a helper verb like estar (to be) to show that an action is in progress right now.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it like an English '-ing' Noun
Mistake: "Me gusta pensando."
Correction: Me gusta pensar. In Spanish, when you talk about an activity you like (e.g., 'I like swimming'), you always use the verb's original `-ar`, `-er`, or `-ir` form, not the `-ando`/`-iendo` form.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Two Actions at Once
You can use pensando to describe what you're thinking while doing something else. For example: Caminaba por el parque, pensando en mis cosas. (I was walking through the park, thinking about my things.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pensando
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'She is thinking about the future'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pensando' and 'pensado'?
'Pensando' is the `-ing` form ('thinking') and describes an action in progress, usually with `estar`. 'Pensado' means 'thought' and is used to form more complex tenses, like 'he pensado' (I have thought).
Can I use 'pensando' by itself without 'estoy' or 'está'?
Yes, sometimes! You can use it to describe what someone is doing while performing another action. For example: 'Pasé la tarde leyendo, pensando de vez en cuando en el viaje.' (I spent the afternoon reading, thinking about the trip from time to time.)