A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing two young people. One person is sitting and looking thoughtfully at a single, simple object like a smooth river stone. The second person is standing close by, looking intently at the seated person, suggesting curiosity or influence over their thought process.

pienses

pee-EN-ses

VerbB1stem-changing (e>ie) ar

you think?Used when expressing doubt, uncertainty, wishes, or influence regarding the other person's thoughts.

Also:you believe?When the belief is questioned or uncertain.,you may think?Expressing possibility or conjecture.

Quick Reference

infinitivepensar

gerundpensando

past Participlepensado

📝 In Action

No creo que pienses eso de verdad.

I don't think you really mean that.

Quiero que pienses en una solución diferente.

I want you to think of a different solution.

Quizás pienses que es aburrido, pero es importante.

Maybe you think it's boring, but it's important.

¡No pienses mal! Solo fue un error.

Don't think badly! It was just a mistake.

Word Connections

Synonyms

creer (to believe)
opinar (to have an opinion)

Common Collocations

No creo que pienses – I don't think you think
Espero que pienses – I hope you think

💡 Grammar Points

The Subjunctive Trigger

You use 'pienses' (the special verb form) when the thinking is uncertain, doubted, or wished for. You need a trigger phrase like 'No creo que' (I don't believe that) or 'Dudo que' (I doubt that).

Stem Change Reminder

Remember that 'pensar' changes its vowel sound from Pensar to Pienses in most forms, including this one. The 'tú' form always ends in -es for AR verbs in this special mood.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Normal Form

Mistake: "No creo que piensas eso."

Correction: No creo que pienses eso. (The special verb form is required when expressing doubt about someone's thought.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Negative Commands

This form is also used for telling a friend (tú) not to do something: '¡No pienses demasiado!' (Don't think too much!)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedpiensa

yopienso

túpiensas

ellos/ellas/ustedespiensan

nosotrospensamos

vosotrospensáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpensaba

yopensaba

túpensabas

ellos/ellas/ustedespensaban

nosotrospensábamos

vosotrospensabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedpensó

yopensé

túpensaste

ellos/ellas/ustedespensaron

nosotrospensamos

vosotrospensasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedpiense

yopiense

túpienses

ellos/ellas/ustedespiensen

nosotrospensemos

vosotrospenséis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpensara

yopensara

túpensaras

ellos/ellas/ustedespensaran

nosotrospensáramos

vosotrospensarais

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pienses

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'pienses'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pensar(to think) - verb

pensamiento(thought) - noun

pensador(thinker) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'pienses' have 'ie' instead of 'e' like 'pensar'?

'Pensar' is a 'boot verb' or stem-changing verb. The vowel 'e' changes to 'ie' in most forms (like 'yo pienso' and 'tú pienses') to maintain the correct spoken sound, but it reverts back to 'e' for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms (pensemos, penséis).

Is 'pienses' ever used without 'que'?

Yes! When giving a negative command to a friend, you use this form directly: '¡No pienses en eso ahora!' (Don't think about that right now!).