The verb pensar means "to think". It is an e→ie stem-changing verb in the present and subjunctive. Since it's an -ar verb, the preterite is regular and there is no change in the gerund.
Pensar is often followed by different prepositions that change its meaning: pensar en means "to think about" (have on one's mind), pensar de means "to have an opinion about", and pensar + infinitive means "to plan to" do something.
Present Indicative
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | pienso |
| tú | piensas |
| él / ella / usted | piensa |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | piensan |
Pienso que es una buena idea.
I think it's a good idea.
Preterite
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | pensé |
| tú | pensaste |
| él / ella / usted | pensó |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | pensaron |
Imperfect
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | pensaba |
| tú | pensabas |
| él / ella / usted | pensaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensábamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | pensaban |
Pensaba que ya habías llegado.
I thought you had already arrived.
Future
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | pensaré |
| tú | pensarás |
| él / ella / usted | pensará |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensaremos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | pensarán |
Conditional
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | pensaría |
| tú | pensarías |
| él / ella / usted | pensaría |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensaríamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | pensarían |
Present Subjunctive
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | piense |
| tú | pienses |
| él / ella / usted | piense |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensemos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | piensen |
No creo que piense lo mismo que tú.
I don't think he thinks the same as you.
Imperfect Subjunctive
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | pensara |
| tú | pensaras |
| él / ella / usted | pensara |
| nosotros / nosotras | pensáramos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | pensaran |
Imperative
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| tú (affirmative) | piensa |
| tú (negative) | no pienses |
| usted | piense |
| nosotros | pensemos |
| ustedes | piensen |
Non-Finite Forms
| Form | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Infinitive | pensar |
| Gerund | pensando |
| Past Participle | pensado |
Common Uses and Expressions
- Pensar en — to think about (have in mind): Pienso en ti todo el tiempo.
- Pensar de — to have an opinion about: ¿Qué piensas de la nueva película?
- Pensar + infinitive — to plan to: Pienso viajar en agosto.
- Pensándolo bien... — Come to think of it...
¿En qué estás pensando?
What are you thinking about?
💡
Pay attention to the preposition after pensar: en = "about" (thinking on), de = "of" (opinion). Pienso en mi familia = "I think about my family"; ¿Qué piensas de él? = "What do you think of him?"
Pensar follows the classic e→ie pattern shared by cerrar and empezar.
Related Topics
- Cerrar: Full ConjugationA2 — Complete conjugation of the verb cerrar with its e→ie stem change
- Empezar: Full ConjugationA2 — Complete conjugation of the verb empezar with its e→ie stem change and z→c spelling change
- Stem Change: E → IEA2 — Verbs where the stem vowel e changes to ie in stressed syllables.