pensar
/pen-sar/
to think
The primary meaning of 'pensar' (to think) refers to general mental activity and using one's mind.
pensar(Verb)
to think
?general mental activity
to use your mind
?the act of thinking
,to consider
?weighing options
📝 In Action
Necesito tiempo para pensar.
A1I need time to think.
Pienso, luego existo.
B1I think, therefore I am.
¿En qué piensas?
A2What are you thinking about?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'e' sometimes changes to 'ie'
Notice how in 'yo pienso', the 'e' from 'pensar' becomes 'ie'. This happens in some forms (like the present tense), but not all. For 'nosotros' (we), it stays as 'e': 'pensamos'.
Thinking 'about' someone or something
To say you are thinking about something or someone, you almost always use the little word 'en' after 'pensar'. For example: 'Pienso en mis vacaciones' (I'm thinking about my vacation).
We use 'pensar que' (to think that/to believe) to express an opinion or state a belief.
pensar(Verb)
to think (that...)
?expressing an opinion or belief
to believe
?stating what you hold to be true
,to be of the opinion
?more formal way to state a belief
📝 In Action
Pienso que es una buena idea.
A2I think that it's a good idea.
¿Qué piensas de la nueva ley?
B1What do you think of the new law?
Ellos piensan que vamos a ganar.
A2They think that we are going to win.
No pienso que sea tan fácil.
B2I don't think it's that easy.
💡 Grammar Points
Use 'que' for opinions
When you want to say 'I think that...', use the structure 'pienso que...'. That little word 'que' connects your thought to your opinion. Example: 'Pienso que la película es buena.'
A special change for negative opinions
When you say 'I don't think that...', the verb that follows often changes to a special form (the subjunctive). Example: 'No pienso que sea una buena idea' (I don't think it is a good idea).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'en' instead of 'que'
Mistake: "Pienso en es una buena idea."
Correction: Use 'que' to introduce an opinion: 'Pienso que es una buena idea.' Use 'en' for what's on your mind: 'Pienso en ti' (I'm thinking about you).
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for opinions
To ask 'What do you think of...?', use '¿Qué piensas de...?'. This is a great way to start a conversation about a movie, a book, or an event.
When followed by an infinitive verb, 'pensar' means 'to plan' or 'to intend to do something' (e.g., Pienso viajar - I plan to travel).
pensar(Verb)
to plan
?intending to do something in the future
to intend
?having an intention
,to be thinking of
?considering an action, e.g., 'thinking of moving'
📝 In Action
Pienso viajar a México el próximo verano.
B1I plan to travel to Mexico next summer.
¿Piensas ir a la fiesta esta noche?
B1Are you planning to go to the party tonight?
Pensábamos salir, pero empezó a llover.
B2We were planning to go out, but it started to rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Structure for Plans: 'pensar' + action verb
To talk about your plans, just put the base form of the action verb (like 'viajar', 'comer', 'ir') right after 'pensar'. It's that simple! Example: 'Pienso estudiar más' (I plan to study more).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Adding an extra word
Mistake: "Pienso a viajar. or Pienso de viajar."
Correction: No extra word is needed between 'pensar' and the next verb. Just say: 'Pienso viajar.'
⭐ Usage Tips
A natural alternative to 'planear'
While 'planear' also means 'to plan', using 'pensar' sounds very natural and is extremely common in daily conversation when talking about your intentions.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pensar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'I plan to buy a new car'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pensar en', 'pensar de', and 'pensar que'?
It's a great question! Here's a simple breakdown: - **Pensar en**: Use this for the *subject* of your thoughts. It means 'to think **about**'. (e.g., 'Pienso en mi familia' - I'm thinking about my family). - **Pensar de**: Use this to ask for an *opinion*. It means 'to think **of**' or 'what's your opinion of'. (e.g., '¿Qué piensas de la canción?' - What do you think of the song?). - **Pensar que**: Use this to *state* your opinion. It means 'to think **that**'. (e.g., 'Pienso que es una buena canción' - I think that it's a good song).
Is 'pensar' always an 'e' to 'ie' stem-changing verb?
Not always! The 'e' changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms (pienso, piensas, piensa, piensan) and in the matching command/subjunctive forms. However, for 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all, informal), it stays regular: 'pensamos', 'pensáis'. It's also regular in other tenses like the preterite ('pensé') and imperfect ('pensaba').