A storybook illustration of a young child sitting on the floor with their chin resting on their hand, deep in thought, symbolizing consideration.

pensarlo

pen-SAR-lo

Verb (Infinitive Phrase)A2Stem-changing (e > ie) ar

to think about it?to consider a situation or idea,to consider it?to weigh an option

Also:to plan it?when 'pensar' means 'to plan'

Quick Reference

infinitivePensar (base form)

gerundPensando

past ParticiplePensado

📝 In Action

Necesitas pensarlo bien antes de decidir.

You need to think about it carefully before deciding.

Quiero pensarlo un poco más y luego te digo.

I want to consider it a little more and then I'll tell you.

Es una buena oferta, pero debemos pensarlo.

It's a good offer, but we must think about it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

considerar (to consider)
reflexionar (to reflect)

Common Collocations

Dejar pensarlo – To let me think about it
Tengo que pensarlo – I have to think about it

Idioms & Expressions

Pensarlo dos veces – To think very carefully before acting

💡 Grammar Points

The Attached Pronoun

The word 'pensarlo' is the base verb 'pensar' plus the pronoun 'lo,' meaning 'it.' This form ('pensar' + 'lo') is only used when the verb is in the infinitive form, usually after another verb like 'deber' or 'querer'.

Pronoun Placement Rule

When 'pensar' is conjugated (e.g., 'I think,' 'she thought'), the pronoun 'lo' must detach and move to the front of the conjugated verb: 'Lo pienso' (I think about it), 'Lo pensamos' (We thought about it).

Stem Change

The base verb 'pensar' is stem-changing: the 'e' changes to 'ie' in the present tense forms, except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Misplacing the Pronoun

Mistake: "Yo quiero lo pensar."

Correction: Yo quiero pensarlo. (OR: Yo lo quiero pensar.) When using two verbs, 'lo' can either attach to the infinitive or precede the first conjugated verb.

Forgetting the Accent in the Gerund

Mistake: "Estoy pensando lo."

Correction: Estoy pensándolo. When attaching 'lo' to the gerund (the -ndo form), you must add an accent mark to maintain the original stress.

⭐ Usage Tips

Affirmative Commands

The pronoun 'lo' also attaches to affirmative commands: 'Piénsalo' (Think about it!). Remember to add the written accent mark.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pensarlo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the pronoun 'lo' with a conjugated form of 'pensar'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pensar(to think) - verb

pensamiento(thought) - noun

pensador(thinker) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the pronoun 'lo' attached to the end of 'pensar'?

In Spanish, object pronouns (like 'lo', 'la', 'me', 'te') must attach to the end of three specific verb forms: the infinitive ('pensar'), the gerund ('pensando'), and affirmative commands ('piensa'). This is a core rule of Spanish grammar.

What is the difference between 'pensarlo' and 'pensar'?

'Pensar' simply means 'to think.' 'Pensarlo' means 'to think about IT.' The 'lo' refers to a specific idea, situation, or thing that the speaker and listener already know about.