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Spanish · Verb · #27 most common

pensar

to think
to intend

Irregular-ar ending

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

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yopienso
piensas
él/ellapiensa
nosotrospensamos
vosotrospensáis
ellos/ellaspiensan

Yo pienso que es una buena idea.

I think it's a good idea.

Ella piensa en su futuro.

She thinks about her future.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yopensé
pensaste
él/ellapensó
nosotrospensamos
vosotrospensasteis
ellos/ellaspensaron

Ayer pensé en lo que me dijiste.

Yesterday I thought about what you told me.

Ellos pensaron que el examen sería fácil.

They thought the exam would be easy.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yopensaba
pensabas
él/ellapensaba
nosotrospensábamos
vosotrospensabais
ellos/ellaspensaban

Cuando era niño, pensaba mucho en mis sueños.

When I was a child, I thought a lot about my dreams.

Mi abuelo siempre pensaba en su juventud.

My grandfather always thought about his youth.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yopensaré
pensarás
él/ellapensará
nosotrospensaremos
vosotrospensaréis
ellos/ellaspensarán

Mañana pensaré en cómo resolver el problema.

Tomorrow I will think about how to solve the problem.

Ella pensará en lo que le dije.

She will think about what I told her.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yopensaría
pensarías
él/ellapensaría
nosotrospensaríamos
vosotrospensaríais
ellos/ellaspensarían

Si tuviera tiempo, pensaría más en mis estudios.

If I had time, I would think more about my studies.

Ellos pensarían en viajar si tuvieran dinero.

They would think about traveling if they had money.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yopiense
pienses
él/ellapiense
nosotrospensemos
vosotrospenséis
ellos/ellaspiensen

Espero que pienses en lo que te dije.

I hope you think about what I told you.

Es importante que ella piense en su salud.

It's important that she thinks about her health.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yopensara
pensaras
él/ellapensara
nosotrospensáramos
vosotrospensarais
ellos/ellaspensaran

Si pensara en otra cosa, sería más feliz.

If I thought about something else, I would be happier.

Si ellos pensaran en el futuro, harían mejores decisiones.

If they thought about the future, they would make better decisions.

"pensar" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "pensar" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"pensar" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -ar conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "pensar" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "pensar" conjugates as: piensas, pienso, piensan, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "pensar" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "pensar" conjugates as: pensaste, pensé, pensaron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "pensar" in Spanish?
"pensar" (to think, to intend) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.