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French · Verb · #25 most common

penser

to think


Regular1st ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Présent

Current actions, habits, and general truths.

jepense
tupenses
il/ellepense
nouspensons
vouspensez
ils/ellespensent

Je pense à mes vacances.

I am thinking about my vacation.

Tu penses que c'est une bonne idée.

You think that it's a good idea.

2.

Passé Composé

Completed past actions with present relevance.

jeai pensé
tuas pensé
il/ellea pensé
nousavons pensé
vousavez pensé
ils/ellesont pensé

J'ai pensé à toi hier.

I thought about you yesterday.

Elle a pensé que c'était un bon plan.

She thought it was a good plan.

3.

Imparfait

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

jepensais
tupensais
il/ellepensait
nouspensions
vouspensiez
ils/ellespensaient

Quand j'étais jeune, je pensais souvent à l'avenir.

When I was young, I often thought about the future.

Ils pensaient que le film serait ennuyeux.

They thought that the movie would be boring.

4.

Futur Simple

Future events, promises, and formal predictions.

jepenserai
tupenseras
il/ellepensera
nouspenserons
vouspenserez
ils/ellespenseront

Je penserai à ta proposition demain.

I will think about your proposal tomorrow.

Nous penserons à une solution ensemble.

We will think of a solution together.

5.

Conditionnel Présent

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and reported future.

jepenserais
tupenserais
il/ellepenserait
nouspenserions
vouspenseriez
ils/ellespenseraient

Je penserais à toi si j'avais le temps.

I would think of you if I had the time.

Elle penserait à un autre plan.

She would think of another plan.

6.

Subjonctif Présent

Doubt, desire, necessity, and emotion in subordinate clauses.

jepense
tupenses
il/ellepense
nouspensons
vouspensiez
ils/ellespensent

Il faut que je pense à mes priorités.

I need to think about my priorities.

Bien qu'elle pense à son avenir, elle reste positive.

Although she thinks about her future, she remains positive.

7.

Plus-que-parfait

Actions completed before another past action.

jeavais pensé
tuavais pensé
il/elleavait pensé
nousavions pensé
vousaviez pensé
ils/ellesavaient pensé

J'avais pensé que tu viendrais.

I had thought that you would come.

Ils avaient pensé à cette idée avant nous.

They had thought of this idea before us.

"penser" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "penser" regular or irregular in French?
"penser" is a regular 1st verb in French. It follows the standard conjugation pattern for 1st verbs.
How do you conjugate "penser" in the present tense?
In the Présent, "penser" conjugates as: pense, penses, pensons, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "penser" in French?
In the Passé Composé, "penser" conjugates as: ai pensé, as pensé, avons pensé, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "penser" in French?
"penser" (to think) is one of the most commonly used verbs in French.