piensas
/PYEN-sas/
you think
The most common use of piensas is to ask or state what 'you think' or 'you believe'.
piensas(Verb)
you think
?Expressing a belief, opinion, or using your brain.
you believe
?Similar to 'creer', expressing a personal conviction.
📝 In Action
¿Qué piensas de mi vestido nuevo?
A1What do you think of my new dress?
No sé qué piensas, pero yo creo que es una buena idea.
A2I don't know what you think, but I believe it's a good idea.
Si piensas que voy a ayudarte, estás muy equivocado.
B1If you think I'm going to help you, you are very mistaken.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'piensas' for?
This is the form of 'pensar' (to think) you use when talking to one person you know well, like a friend or family member (the 'tú' form).
The 'Boot' Verb Transformation
In the present, 'pensar' is a 'stem-changing' verb. The 'e' in 'pensar' changes to 'ie' for most forms (pienso, piensas, piensa, piensan). Notice how 'nosotros' (pensamos) and 'vosotros' (pensáis) stay outside this change, forming a boot shape on a chart!
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Thinking about' someone
Mistake: "Te pienso mucho."
Correction: Pienso mucho en ti. --- To say you are thinking 'about' or 'of' someone or something, you must use 'pensar en'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for Opinions
The question '¿Qué piensas?' is the most direct and common way to ask a friend, 'What do you think?'
When followed by an infinitive, piensas means 'you plan' or 'you intend' to do something.
piensas(Verb)
you plan
?Expressing a future intention, followed by another action.
you intend
?Showing what you mean to do.
📝 In Action
¿Piensas ir al cine este fin de semana?
A2Do you plan to go to the movies this weekend?
Si no piensas estudiar, no vas a pasar el examen.
B1If you don't plan to study, you're not going to pass the exam.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Plan to...' Formula
To talk about your plans, use this simple recipe: 'pensar' + an action verb. For example, 'Pienso comer' means 'I plan to eat'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Planning vs. Thinking About
Mistake: "Piensas en viajar a México."
Correction: Piensas viajar a México. --- The first sentence means you are 'thinking about' the idea of traveling. The second, without 'en', means you are actively 'planning' to travel.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Casual Way to Talk About the Future
In everyday Spanish, people often say '¿Qué piensas hacer?' (What do you plan to do?) instead of using the more formal future tense '¿Qué harás?' (What will you do?).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: piensas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'Do you plan to call Maria?'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'piensas' and 'pienses'?
'Piensas' is used for facts or questions about what someone thinks or plans ('¿Qué piensas?'). 'Pienses' is a special form used after certain triggers, like expressing doubt or giving a negative command ('No pienses en eso' - Don't think about that).
When do I use 'piensas' (tú) vs. 'piensa' (usted)?
Use 'piensas' when talking to one person you're familiar with, like a friend, a child, or a peer. Use 'piensa' when talking to someone you want to show more respect to, like a boss, a stranger, or an older person. 'Piensa' is the more formal version.