Breakdown of ¿Qué tenéis pensado hacer después del examen?
qué
what
hacer
to do, to make
el examen
the exam
después de
after (+ noun / infinitive)
tener pensado
to be planning to, to have in mind (to do)
Questions & Answers about ¿Qué tenéis pensado hacer después del examen?
Why does the sentence use tenéis pensado instead of the present perfect habéis pensado?
While both translate similarly, they have different focuses. The present perfect habéis pensado focuses on the action of thinking (Have you thought about...). The structure tener plus a past participle describes a current state resulting from a past action. Tener pensado followed by an infinitive is a very common fixed expression meaning to have in mind or to be planning to do something.
Would the word pensado change to pensadas if the people taking the exam are all female?
No, it remains exactly as it is. When the structure tener plus a participle is followed by an infinitive verb (like hacer), the participle is invariable and always stays in the masculine singular form (pensado). It only changes gender and number if it modifies a specific noun, like in the sentence Tengo pensadas las respuestas (I have the answers thought out).
Could I use the verb planear here since the English translation says planning?
You could say ¿Qué planeáis hacer?, but native speakers in Spain rarely use planear for casual, everyday plans. The verb planear sounds much more formal or calculated, like planning a complex project or a detailed trip. For casual intentions, tener pensado or simply the verb pensar sounds much more natural.
What is the slight difference in meaning between saying ¿Qué tenéis pensado hacer? and ¿Qué pensáis hacer?
Learn ¿Qué tenéis pensado hacer después del examen and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free